Agenda item

Bids for funding have been received and this report is intended to facilitate a determination by the Committee of whether any individual bid should be supported.

(Prior to the commencement of this item, Councillor Greenway redeclared his Prejudicial Interest made at the start of the meeting in relation to one of the applications, which was the Bognor Regis Youth and Community Club. Councillor Greenway confirmed that he had previously been a Trustee, he was no longer a Trustee, but to ensure complete transparency he would leave the room whilst the application for this Club was considered and would not take part in any voting on this specific application).

The Joint Interim Chief Executive and Director of Growth presented his report which was asking the Committee to approve the allocation of funds specific to four projects set out in the report – these were:

·         Bognor Regis Youth & Community Club - £20,000

·         Slindon Parish Council - £20,000

·         Arundel Lido - £19,000

·         Bognor Fun Bus CIC Children and Youth Project - £18,000 to £22,000.

Before providing some updates to the meeting, the Committee was reminded of the decisions it had made at its meeting held on 26 October 2024 when it resolved to agree that the Arun Community Asset Fund be established; how it should be run and the criteria that needed to be met in terms of assessing applications.

Four applications for funding had been received and the report had provided the detail surrounding each application. In respect of the application from the Arundel Lido, it had since been confirmed that the amount of funding being sought had reduced from £19k to £15k as since the application had been submitted, the Lido had secured other funding sources. In respect of the fourth application from the Bognor Regis Fun Bus CIC Children and Youth Project, Members were asked to note that the funding amount requested ranged from £18k to £22k. Members’ attention was drawn to the criteria agreed confirming that the capital costs of an individual project should not exceed £20k and so if Members were minded to support this application, a sum of no more than £20k could not be approved. Another point drawn to Members’ attention was the criteria that any project should have the support of 50 per cent of Ward Members. An issue with the fourth application was that it did not have fixed assets, this was a mobile project in its nature that could venture into multiple wards making it very difficult to identify any individual ward to allow consultation with ward members to take place and to gain such approval. It had not therefore been possible to undertake this consultation. 

Having received the updates provided, the Chair invited debate and suggested that a decision be made first on the application from the Bognor Regis Youth and Community Club so that on conclusion of this application, Councillor Greenway could return to the meeting to take part in considering the remaining applications.

Councillor Birch then proposed the first application, and this was seconded by Councillor Nash.

The Committee

RESOLVED

That the application from the Bognor Regis Youth and Community Club in the sum of £20,000 be agreed.

(Councillor Greenway then rejoined the meeting).

The Chair then returned to the remaining applications 2, 3 and 4 and invited comment and debate.

The Committee fully supported application 2 [Slindon Parish Council – “Keeping the Kids Playing”] as it was seen as a great opportunity to support an area of the district that was very seldom mentioned. It was acknowledged that the play equipment needed urgent replacement due to its age and that its replacement would greatly benefit children of varying ages and abilities. The application had the full support of Ward Members and the Member of Parliament.

Discussion then focused on the remaining funding available [£25k] and that any further applications should focus on providing for the youth of the district and other areas of the district such as Littlehampton, Rustington and other eastern wards.  Members were asked to encourage other organisations to apply.  It was agreed that to focus applications on children in the community was vital. The Interim Joint Chief Executive and Director of Growth felt confident that applications from the eastern side of the district would be received as part of the next round of bids.

            Views were expressed by some Councillors that application 4 should not be supported as it had only been in operation for a short time and had no operational history or accounts. It was outlined that this applicant had applied for funding from Bognor Regis Town Council who had refused the application as it did not have any operational history. There was a Councillor who stated that he would find it uncomfortable giving them funding on that basis as he had not seen solid historic information, nor could he find a web site whereas the other applications all had long-standing history and pedigrees by comparison. On that basis, Councillor Gunner confirmed that if the Committee disagreed with his views, he wished for the voting on application 4 to be taken separately. There were other Councillors who held similar concerns over the lack of a track record with application 4 and so it was suggested that the applicant might wish to provide further information and prove that they could support themselves. Officers were asked if they could ask the applicant to provide more substantial information. Clarification was also sought as to who the Ward Members were supporting the application.  It was explained that it had not been possible to consult with specific Ward Members as this was a multi-ward project and so the application could be seen to be not fully complying with the application criteria. Following discussion, the Committee confirmed that the application should be deferred so that further information could be obtained.

            The proposal to defer application 4 was then proposed by Councillor Stanley and seconded by Councillor Gunner.

            The Committee

                        RESOLVED

That consideration of application 4 from the Bognor Fun Bus CIC Children and Youth Project be deferred until additional information was provided and multiple Members from varying Wards had been consulted.

            Debate then focused on application 3 from the Arundel Lido which was fully supported by the Committee.

Having had applications 2 and 3 proposed by Councillor Birch and seconded by Councillor Nash,

The Committee

            RESOLVED

            That application 2 [Slindon Parish Council – “Keep the Kids Playing” and application 3 [Arundel Lido – New Insulated Pool Covers and Frame] be approved.