Councillors are reminded that under the Council’s Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications
a) An update on the 2013/14 Community Meeting budget will be provided
b) The meeting is asked to note the following grant application, which has been decided under the Council’s fast track procedure:-
Application 1
The following application was not supported.
Application £500 from Inspirate for £500 towards “Diversifying South Asian Festivals in Leicester”.
The funding was requested for the promotion of “An Indian Summer” (AIS), a recently established festival that uses venues within the city centre, including the Cultural Quarter’s Curve Theatre and Phoenix Independent Cinema.
c) Grant applications submitted for consideration:-
Application 2
Project: Starter furniture packs
Applicant: Kate Stretton, Stonham
Amount requested:
This is a joint application to the Westcotes Community Meeting and the Western Park Community Meeting.
|
Item |
Cost |
Estimate / Actual? |
Request to Ward Meeting |
|
Hire of the garage for 1 year |
£260 |
£260 |
|
|
Help towards staff mileage costs 20 miles a week at 0.45p a mile |
£468 |
|
£468 |
|
Total |
£728 |
|
£728 |
Summary:
Due to government changes in how grants such as community care grants and crisis loans are allocated, Stonham is trying to find alternative help and support for clients who are in hostel accommodation but are ready and about to move into their own independent home.
The majority of clients in the organisation’s supported housing schemes are on benefits and have no disposable income or funds to set up their own homes. Previously, when a client was ready to move to independent living applications were made to various charities and for government grants to enable the client to have just the basics in furniture. These resources are becoming very limited and changes to government grants may result in Stonham’s clients not being eligible.
It therefore is proposed to hire out a storage facility and collect items of furniture offered on recycling sites such as Freecycle. A ‘stock’ of donated items then will be held that will help set up a home for a hostel client.
Staff will collect items in their own time and using their own vehicles.
Application 3
Project: Manor House Refurbishment
Applicant: Arthur Manger
Amount requested:
|
Item |
Cost |
Estimate / Actual? |
Request to Ward Meeting |
|
Kitchenette |
£3,530 |
Estimate |
£3,000 |
|
Total |
£3,530 |
|
£3,000 |
Summary:
It is proposed to redesign the art and craft centre on the ground floor of the Manor House Neighbourhood Centre. A multi-purpose room will be created that can be used as an advice centre, classroom, or small party room.
This would be used by people in the area and particularly those using the food bank.
It is hoped to start the project in June and complete it by September.
The Centre will use its own funding for the balance of the cost.
Application 4
Project: Food in the Community – Pilot Project
Applicant: Leicester Masaya Link Group, with the support of Environmental Studies Ltd
Amount requested:
This is a joint application to the Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields Community Meeting and Westcotes Community Meeting.
|
Item |
Cost (£) |
Estimate/ Actual cost? |
Request to Ward Meeting (£) |
|
Specialist staff to plan, prepare, run (2 days) and follow up (0.5 days) the 3 events: 3x2x2.5 @ £150 |
£2,250 |
A |
£2,250 |
|
Materials for the events |
£200 |
E |
£200 |
|
Publicity |
£200 |
E |
£200 |
|
Collating and analysing feedback: 1 day @ £150 |
£150 |
A |
£150 |
|
Researching funding opportunities: 2 days @ £150 |
£300 |
A |
£300 |
|
Developing partnerships: 6 days @ £150 |
£900 |
A |
£900 |
|
Writing bids: 9 days @ £150 |
£1,350 |
A |
0 |
|
Office costs and travel |
£50 |
E |
£50 |
|
Total |
|
£2,025 per ward (£4,050 in total) |
Summary:
The project aims to consult with members of the local community and relevant partners to develop a larger funded programme of activities combining food growing with the cultural and social significance of food.
Promoting the growing of vegetables will support healthy eating and encourage physical exercise, as well as increasing access to cheap, fresh food. It is anticipated that the community based approach of will include sharing favourite recipes and understanding the global interdependence of foods, which will support greater cohesion between communities. The collective act of growing brings people together and gives a sense of ownership and belonging.
The consultation process will take place from June to September 2013. At the end of this there will be clear project proposal, incorporating identified community need and committed partner organisations. Applications for funding for the proposal will then made to funding bodies.
The organisers will be attending the International Food Festival at the Manor House Community Centre on 6 July 2013 and the Braunstone Carnival on 29 June. In addition, a drop-in community event will be hosted at the polytunnels next to Braunstone Skills Centre. This will emphasise practical food growing.
Alongside this, the applicants will research current activity and players in the local area, to ensure that the proposal complements existing programmes, and to identify potential funding streams to submit the final proposal to.
Application 5
Project: Upstairs at the Western – Leicester’s First Pub Theatre
Applicant: Off the Fence Theatre Company CIC
Amount requested:
|
Item |
Cost |
Estimate / Actual? |
Request to Ward Meeting |
|
Building Work |
£6,500 |
Actual |
Paid by landlord (brewery) |
|
Staging and wing space – truss and flooring |
£3,500 |
Actual |
|
|
Lighting Desk - lighting rig, lanterns, cables, lamps |
£2,500 |
Actual |
|
|
Seating – individual seats plus restraining clips £28 each. Theatre bench seating also being considered, subject to similar costing, to increase capacity |
£2,000 |
Actual |
|
|
Drapes and rails |
£1,500 |
Actual |
|
|
Sound system |
£2,000 |
Actual |
|
|
Decorating materials |
£600 |
Estimate |
|
|
Rental |
£2,080 per year |
Actual |
|
|
Total |
£12,100 |
|
£4,000 |
The cost of drapes and rails may increase when the cost of making them up is known. This will be finalised when a wall is removed and the condition of the exposed structure is seen.
Summary:
In March and April 2013 an under-utilised room at the Western pub was turned in to a temporary theatre, Upstairs at the Western. A stage was built, lights and sound system installed, and folding seats hired. 21 performance companies and 691 people visited the theatre. This was funded by the Off the Fence Theatre Company CIC, supported by a grant from the Westcotes Community Fund.
It is now proposed to turn the room in to a permanent theatre space and improve facilities. To do this, the company needs to:
· Enter in to a rental agreement with the brewery;
· Relocate the stage, take down a stud wall and create a stage wing;
· Improve lighting;
· Install a new sound system;
· Install suitable auditorium seating; and
· Upgrade window blinds and redecorate.
The work will be scheduled to be completed by the end of August. The theatre will then be fully functional from October and the first season will run from October to early December 2013.
A short term goal is to have 8 touring theatre companies performing for 2 and 3 night runs, with an average audience of 32 per performance, (45% of capacity), during October and November 2013. In the long term, the aim is to create a venue that is known and respected for relevant, innovative and entertaining programme of work that attracts quality, professional companies and artists.
There is a thriving pub theatre network in most cities. It can become a hub of creativity, help regenerate deprived areas and become a focal point for the local community to gather and experience culture together.
Feedback from questionnaires showed that, for the inaugural season, 32% of performers and 81.8% of the audience lived in Leicester. 32.7% of the audience lived in the LE3 postcode area.
The first season included performances for adults and children and it is intended to continue this, to attract as wide an audience as possible. Approaches and enquiries already have been received from national touring companies, the Everybody’s Reading Festival (to host a play by a local playwright), Regent College (to host its drama festival), and Leicester Comedy Festival (to act as a host event). Off the Fence Theatre Company CIC is the Upstairs at the Western resident theatre company and will produce regular work for performance, as well as outreach projects, which will give the wider community chance to perform.
The Western is a well-known local pub within a catchment area of residents and small to medium sized businesses, to which marketing will be targeted.
A network of community volunteers has been created to help with various roles, (such as front of house and stage crew).
Applications for funding have also been made to O2 Think Bigger (for £2,000) and Westcotes Community First Community Development Foundation (for £2,000). Decisions on both applications are due in July.