Agenda item

a)        Awards already approved.

b)        Potential Funding – short presentations from Martin Hadfield (Little Missendens Baptist Church and Rob Shed (Holmer Green Sports Association).

Awards already approved

Grants under the Small Grants Scheme had been approved to:

·      Little Missenden PC for installation costs for a bench which had been bought by the local WI

·      Great Missenden PC for a speed survey on the Wycombe Road between Lodge Lane and Hildreths Garden Centre

·      Radio Presenter Training for a group of young people

·      Little Kingshill Baptist Church Furniture

The following were in various stages of development and it was anticipated that these schemes would be supported:

·      Changes to the Colts pavilion (application submitted, not circulated)

·      HG Schools Firework event (application submitted, not circulated)

·      Holmer Green Sports Association artificial pitch (application submitted, not circulated)

·      Make Lunch Club (application circulated to Cllrs for approval)

·      Community Fridge

·      Prestwood Community Centre environmental upgrades

·      New equipment for Prestwood Common (GMPC)

·      Bike racks in Prestwood

·      Christmas events – Prestwood, Great Missenden & Holmer Green

·      Walking app

·      Grow Cook Eat

·      Little Kingshill Baptist Church Community Building

·      Youth Survey – support for outcomes

·      Bike racks in Holmer Green

Potential Funding – presentation from Martin Hatfield (Kingshill Baptist Church) and Rob Shed (Holmer Green Sports Association)

Martin Hatfield, of Kingshill Baptist Church explained that the church hall was now not fit for purpose, modern of flexible to meet their growing needs. There was a proposal to replace the hall which had received planning permission in April 2020 and since then the church was pursuing funding to enable the project to happen. It was noted that the architect’s plans included solar panels and an Air Source Heat Pump would also be fitted, ensuring that the hall could be self-sufficient in terms of power generation.

Martin Hatfield explained that this new, more modern and flexible hall would benefit the wider community as well as the church community. The Kingshill Kitchen coffee shop would have a place in the new building, as it does in the current building.

The total projected estimates were £428,000 which included pledges of £185,000, due in the next 12 months and £63,000 due in the next 12-48 months. Gift Aid would amount to £30,000. There were 3 options available with projected shortfalls included.

In response to questions the following was noted:

·      An allowance/contingency had been made in respect of higher inflation. One builder had already been approached and a meeting with a second builder was to be held two days after this meeting to get initial costs. It was noted that some building costs were beginning to fall.

·      A separate funding team were looking at what grants were available, although not for the solar panels which would be taken back and looked into. A recent significant donation had been received recently meaning that work could start on the project.

·      A Mum’s and toddlers group was held every week on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis as was a once a month Coffee and Cake event (which was held by the church), which was also run on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis. The latter event was held for the more vulnerable in the community and the church offered lifts to and from the hall.

·      Young people: Young people were engaged as volunteers in the coffee shop. A request had been received recently for a band to practice at the venue and this would be looked into as there could be a safeguarding issue. Unfortunately the church did not have the resources to run a Youth Club. 

Action: Liz Charleston to put Martin Hatfield in touch with Krissie Hutton, Youth Participation Co-ordinator at the Council for help.

Rob Shed, of Holmer Green Sports Association (HGSA), explained that a large project which was being led by Holmer Green Sports Assn with Holmer Green Football Club was underway for a 3G pitch at Holmer Green.

The sports association was approached by Football Association (FA) and Berks & Bucks Football Association asking of the possibility of 3G pitch at Holmer Green. After duie consideration it and decided to support the scheme. Area plans (football) were submitted in which Holmer Green was mentioned. It was reported that Holmer Green was the only scheme out of 5 in the Bucks area which was going forward. The project was now a year in and received support from, among others, Councillor Waters. The project had been put out to tender earlier in 2022 and a Letter of Intent was issued in June 2022; there was a clause within the Letter of Intent that prices were fixed assuming the project started in 2023. A planning application had been submitted in September 2022 and it was hoped that a decision would be made by December 2022. The total cost of the project was £870,000 (excluding VAT). Funding was coming from the following:

            71% from the Football Foundation

            17% from the Premier League’s community fund

            12% was still to be funded (£100,000)

It was noted that the Holmer Green Football Club had pledged £10,000 and a Crowd Funding appeal would also raise £10,000. An application was rejected by HS2 as the site was not near enough to the HS2 project. Another application to Biffa was also rejected. Other organisations were being approached, including Buckinghamshire Council and this Community Board. The current status of the project was that there was an ongoing issue with replacement leases being issued incorporating amendments, as the Council’s legal team were being unhelpful.

It was hoped that by October 2023, the pitch would have been completed and being used on a regular basis. It was agreed that Councillors would investigate the legal side and liaise with Rob Shed.

The Chairman thanked both speakers from their informative presentations.