Agenda item

To receive the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk regarding four requests for grant/subsidised letting assistance.

Members were generally supportive of grants which assisted asylum seekers but were conscious there were other groups offering activities and other grant pots available. A request from the bike project which would result in a working bike for those involved in the scheme was agreed but further information was required concerning the Time for Art application.

With regard to an application from Witney Ringing Society towards the maintenance of St Mary’s bells, Member’s debated the community benefit and the historic importance but noted the Council would be contributing financially heavily to the parish clock under its statutory obligations. There were potentially other funding streams open to the church and society in their endeavours for the bells.

Members noted the grants and subsidised lettings already awarded to Volunteer Link Up, Witney Forum and towards a NHS 75^th Anniversary event and agreed to a further letting request from the Mayor to hold charity fundraising events in the Council’s public halls.

Resolved:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, a discretionary grant award for £500 towards St Mary’s Church Civic Drinks reception to mark the 75^th Anniversary of the NHS be noted and,

3.      That, a discretionary grant of £800 be awarded to Windrush Bike Project and,

4.      That, further information is required from Time for Art before a decision on the application can be made and,

5.      That, a request from Witney Ringing Society be declined per the above conversation, but further funding avenue streams be offered and,

6.      That, subsidised letting awards of £147 for Volunteer Link Up and £42.35 for Witney Forum are noted and,

7.      That, subsidised letting to the value of £294 be awarded to the Mayor of Witney for charity fundraising in 2023-24 and,

8.      That, these grants be awarded under the General Power of Competence and that the recipients be asked to acknowledge the Council’s financial contribution in their promotional literature and during the event and,

9.      That, a further breakdown of spending costs is requested from APCAM relating to their Youth Services Grant Award for 2022-23 and,

10.   That, an upper limit of £10,000 from the Youth Services budget 2023-24 be earmarked towards a gap in detached youth work for the summer holiday period, the exact amount being delegated to town council representatives at a meeting with stakeholders in the coming weeks.