Issue - meetings

This reports asks the Executive Member to agree to allocate the £200k fund for investment in community facilities to two community organisations in the Fishergate and Guildhall Wards.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to

(i)          Agree to the £200k fund being spent on grants of:

·         £175k to the Melbourne Centre

·         £25k to Space 109

subject to the conditions set out in paragraphs 28 and 29 of the report.

(ii)              That updates on progress be included as part of financial   monitoring reports to EMAP.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To provide excellent community facilities in the vicinity of the Barbican, in line with the Council’s approved Leisure Facilities Strategy.

Members considered a report which sought approval to allocate the £200k fund for investment in community facilities to two community organisations in the Fishergate and Guildhall Wards.

The £200kk fund was a Leisure and Culture capital programme scheme funded by part of the proceeds of sale of the Kent Street site, taken in lieu  of the developer building a new community facility on the redeveloped site.  Three bids had been received - from the Melbourne Centre, Space 109 and UpStage Youth Theatre, 41 Monkgate.  Details of these bids were set out in the report.  

The bids had been examined against the criteria agreed by the Executive for allocation of the fund, as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report.  The Melbourne Centre bid met all the criteria and in particular would lever significant lottery funding.  The bid from Space 109 (Walmgate’s community arts venture) broadly met the criteria, although it was not yet clear whether it would lever in external funding.  The UpStage Youth Theatre bid did not meet the criteria, in that it was not a capital bid and the facility was not in the immediate vicinity of the Barbican.  It was therefore proposed to allocate £180k to the Melbourne Centre and £20k to Space 109.  Officers would work with the Upstage Youth Theatre to try to identify alternative sources of funding for their needs.

Members agreed to change the split in funds to £175k and £25k to allow Space 109 some contingency funds. Officers suggested and Members agreed to receive regular updates on progress as part of the financial monitoring reports to EMAP.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)            Agree to the £200k fund being spent on grants of:

·           £175k to the Melbourne Centre

·           £25k to Space 109

subject to the conditions set out in paragraphs 28 and 29 of the report.

(ii)              Agree that updates on progress be included as part of financial   monitoring reports to EMAP.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To provide excellent community facilities in the vicinity of the Barbican, in line with the Council’s approved Leisure Facilities Strategy.