Decision details

This report presents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Funding Programme.?

An application to the Community Fund has been received from Victory Hall for £10,000 towards a new accessible toilet and additional storage space at the front of the hall.

Victory Hall has an existing toilet block, but when the hall is busy access is via going outside into the car park and accessing the toilet via the back door which is not suitable. More storage is also required to store tables and chairs which are currently taking up valuable cloakroom space. The Hall currently has over 1,000 users attending each week, with many being elderly or having mobility issues. Provision of a new accessible toilet would be a real benefit to these users and make the hall a more attractive venue. Better storage would also allow the hall to host more different types of events.  Planning permission has been acquired for these works.

The estimated cost of the project is £80,000. Victory Hall are looking for £10,000 from the community fund. They have raised £17,500 from fundraising and donations and will use £12,500 from reserves. Victory Hall have also secured a loan of £40,000 from ACRE to be paid back over 5 years.

As of 13 January, Victory Hall held £81,685 in their accounts. In the accounting year 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024, there was an income of £84,711 and expenditure of £69,033.

Both Councillor Ford and Councillor Burgess supports Victory Hall’s application.

RESOLVED that the Executive Member for Leisure and Community approve the application to award £10,000 from the Community Fund.