Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The following rent support grant be approved: 

2.    Authority be delegated to the Participation and Engagement Team Leader, in consultation with One Legal to agree the terms of a rent support grant agreement with the applicant. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets highlighted the council’s wider ambitions for the thriving and voluntary community sector, many of whom utilise buildings owned by the council. How the council can continue to support these groups within its own commercial journey can provide a challenge; rent support grants were introduced in 2016, allowing community organisations to receive a percentage discount of the commercial rent by demonstrating how their organisation, through the use of the building, contributes to the council's agreed corporate priorities. This is appropriate as the council needs to modernise and take Cheltenham’s communities on the journey in a supportive way. The Cabinet Member said that the report sets out the policy and this particular application, and highlighted with pleasure that once again the council has been able to support a community organisation.

A Member asked, now that ten years have passed, whether a review of the policy was planned. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets noted that he would need to check whether there has been a full review but agreed that this is worth considering. He suggested this review would probably sit with other Cabinet colleagues. The Leader noted that the council is very proud of the policy but agreed that the form applicants are required to fill in could be updated and improved.

The Cabinet Member noted that it would be interesting to ask the finance team and property team to provide a report on how much revenue the council has foregone in support of communities over the past ten years.

Members made the following comments:

-       a review of the policy and form by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Wellbeing, Culture and Public Realm would be a positive step, to ensure that both are more applicable to sporting clubs;

-       this rent support grant will have a small impact on the council but a huge impact on the club; obviously, collectively, the grants add up to a much bigger pot for the council but each one makes a difference;

-       the decision is welcomed as the council must do all it can to support the voluntary sector and local sports clubs who contribute so much to the town;

-       as the ward member, this is a favourite project, partly because it is part of the legacy of the late Paul Jones who helped to make it happen, and partly because it is turning a building previously used as a resource centre by Cheltenham Borough Homes back to community use. Nobody knew quite what to do with these buildings right in the heart of their communities, and this is one of the best solutions so far -  the club’s first ever proper community clubhouse. It is excellent that the council is providing financial support and can hopefully do more in the future.

-       Whaddon United has existed for over 70 years, has adult and youth teams but has never had a clubhouse. It is always busy and is already asking for more space,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6