Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to make a loan to Accessible Arts.  Accessible Arts will use this to undertake further consultation and to prepare business and  project plans in support of their bid to the Community Places programme of the Big Lottery Fund for funding to redevelop the Melbourne Centre.

RESOLVED:             That a loan of £9k to Accessible Arts be approved.

REASON:                  So that the preparation and consultation work by Accessible Arts, on behalf of the Melbourne Centre Partnership, can go ahead and lead to an application to the Big Lottery Fund (and other appropriate funders

Members considered a report that sought approval to make a loan to Accessible Arts. Accessible Arts will use this to undertake further consultation and to prepare business and project plans in support of their bid to the Community Places programme of the Big Lottery Fund for funding to develop the Melbourne Centre.

Officers reported that in order to apply for Lottery funding there is a substantial amount of work and planning to do. They need to have a ten year business plan in place and they want the loan to enable them to prepare that plan.

Members said that they were not asking for a large sum of money and clarified with Officers that Accessible Arts could repay the loan. Officers said that they would.

Members then considered the following options:

·              To grant the loan

·              To refuse the loan

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·              Approve a loan of £9k to Accessible Arts.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  So that the preparation and consultation work by Accessible Arts, on behalf of the Melbourne Centre Partnership, can go ahead and lead to an application to the Big Lottery Fund (and other appropriate funders).