Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The following rent support grant be agreed by Cabinet:

2.    the Participation and Engagement Team Leader be authorised to enter into rent support grant agreements with the applicants

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member Finance.

She reported that, in order to support a thriving voluntary and community sector, the council enabled Voluntary Community Sector groups to rent properties through a rent support grant scheme. Appropriate rent support to community-based organisations and services supported the viability of such organisations and the services they provided to the benefit of the social and economic well-being of the town. However, the council would continue to encourage voluntary and community sector organisations to become more self-sufficient and less reliant upon financial support.

The maximum rent support grant that any organisation could apply for was 80% of their current market rent, and the level of support offered was determined by an assessment process. In the case of Cheltenham Spa Bowling Club, the market rent was currently £1,700 per year, and would be £3,650 for the new lease offered. A rent support grant of 36%, totalling £1,314 per annum, would be implemented, bringing the new total rent to £2,336 year, an increase of £636.

The grant was for a three year period and would be consistently monitored. After the three years, the club must reapply.

The Leader of the Council commented that we had been following the policy for a while and he was pleased to see the results.

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The following rent support grant be agreed by Cabinet:

2. the Participation and Engagement Team Leader be authorised to enter into rent support grant agreements with the applicants.