Decision details

This represents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Fund Programme.

An application for community funding has been received from The Rockets Children’s Motorcycle Display Team for the sum of £15,000 towards a replacement lorry that will be used to transport the Team’s bikes to various shows that they attend across the country. 

The Rockets are a growing not-for-profit Community Interest Company.  They have an office in Titchfield and use land at Solent Airspace to train.  The Team currently has a membership of 18 young people, aged 7 to 17 years old, with an annual membership fee of £390 for the first year, then £200 for subsequent years. 

The organisation aims to support families by offering bike rental at £150 per year.  They also try to improve accessibility to the group by enabling monthly payments and arranging special reductions for those who are unable to fund the full amount.  The Rockets are committed to developing a Pricing Policy.

The Rockets encourages involvement in the Team by disabled young people, through the use of a specially adapted ‘mule’ buggy.

The lorry will be a 4 x 2 tractor unit with two axles, of up to 5 years of age, with a tandem black freight box trailer, plated to 30 tonnes.  The lorry would be fitted to the standard of Showman’s Guild (to include toilet, generator, living accommodation and running water) which provides benefits of access to a greater variety of shows and will cost £45,000 in total.  The Team currently has 2 members with HGV licences and are planning to increase this to 4. The organisation is committed to ensure that the tractor unit of the lorry will be maintained and serviced to a good standard, to ensure the longevity of the vehicle.

The Rockets have an arrangement with Crofton Manor Equestrian Centre that will enable them to park the lorry in their grounds.

Currently, the Team use an ageing lorry in addition to vans and trailers belonging to the families of their members to transport the bikes.  The existing lorry is no longer reliable, and the organisation is unable to attend many events due to the excessive parking requirements of their varied transport.

In addition to the value to its members, the Team last year provided displays at 2 Fareham based events; HMS Collingwood Show (which they attended at a reduced fee of £500 – normal fees up to £2,000 depending on size of event), and Park Gate Primary School (which they attended free of charge).  For 2019, they are booked to display at HMS Collingwood Show again, and the two days of the D Day 75 commemoration event free of charge.  They are committed to attending local festivals free of charge but this year this has not been possible due to the Rockets’ availability or their requirements for the show site. 

The Rockets also run approximately 4 ‘open access sessions’ through the year.  Last year this allowed 20 additional young people to try the activity free of charge.

The Rockets plan to fund the remaining £30,000 for the lorry from a £15,000 application to Hampshire County Council and £15,000 from the year’s paid bookings and merchandise sales.

Although the organisation will have no official accounts until September of this year, they have provided their balance sheet which lists a balance at the close of January of £4,109.06.

All Ward Councillors for both Titchfield and Stubbington Wards have been consulted.  Councillor Mrs Hockley and Councillor Forrest have both indicated their support.  No objections have been expressed by any of the Ward Councillors.

That the application for £15,000 from Fareham Borough Council’s Community Fund, submitted by The Rockets Childrens Motorcycle Display Team, be approved.

That the conditions of this award are;

• Evidence of the securing of matched funding from Hampshire County Council.
• The presentation of a Pricing Policy.
• The provision of a minimum of 1 free and 1 reduced price Fareham Borough-based displays per annum.
• The availability of a minimum of 2 subsidised places for young people to whom finances would be a barrier to participation.

A commitment to providing free activities to engage young people as part of the Council’s Access All Areas summer events.