At the June 2022 Western Area Committee Meeting, Members requested proposals for funding be brought back to the September meeting for consideration.  The Chair reminded Members that the Constitution stated that “Any amount for which an allocation has not been agreed by the Area Committee by the end of the financial year will be forfeited, and no rollovers will be permitted.  Any funding allocation agreed by the Committee but unspent by the end of each electoral cycle (ie May 2023) will also be forfeited).”

A discussion took place on each proposal:

Youth Provision Project – Rebecca O’Neill, the Commissioned Provider of Youth Provision for KCC confirmed that The Meads could be added to the list of areas to be visited by the Vibe youth workers to engage with young people.  She also confirmed that the project could be repeated two further times.  Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion:  that the Youth Provision Project should be carried out three times and include The Meads.  The amount allocated for this project was £6,930.00.  This was seconded by Councillor Roger Clark and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Bredgar and Hartlip Conservation Area Reviews – Councillor Mike Baldock spoke about the proposal which had been highlighted in 2021 as a priority of Western Area Committee.  The proposal set out officer comments about the workload of the Conservation & Design Team but Councillor Baldock said the Area Committee should not be put off agreeing the proposal as the Consultant would be carrying out the reviews and the Graphics Officer would be producing the documents.  There was general agreement that Peter Bell should be appointed to carry out the work.  Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion: that Western Area Committee allocate £8,400.00 for Peter Bell to carry out Conservation Area Reviews at Bredgar and Hartlip.  This was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

King George V Toilet Refurbishment – Councillor Sarah Stephen explained that the toilet at King George V Playing Field was in need of renovation and officers had obtained a quote to complete the work.  Members were supportive of the proposal but questioned if there was an alternative hard wearing wall covering which would have an improved appearance to white roc.  Councillor Sarah Stephen moved the following motion:  That Western Area Committee allocate £5,054.00 to refurbish the King George V toilet and officers look for an alternative wall covering.  This was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Donation to Foodbank – Councillor Corrie Woodford spoke about the proposal that stated the Swale Foodbank was the appropriate Foodbank for the Western Area.  Members commented that some residents would find it difficult to travel to the Foodbank centres due to lack of public transport.  It was suggested that the Bus Shelter Foodbank would also be able to support residents in the Western Area.  Members would want any funding allocated to benefit residents in the Western Area rather than the whole of Swale.  A Member spoke about the difficulties residents would have obtaining alternative heating fuels such as heating oil and Calor Gas.  Councillor Corrie Woodford moved the following motion:  that Western Area Committee allocated £10,000.00 as a donation to Foodbanks providing they could provide guarantees that the funding would be directed to residents in the Western Area, deliveries to be made to residents who could not travel and that officers worked on a funding proposal to bring to the December 2022 meeting which would support residents who were having difficulties purchasing alternative heating products.  This was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

The Chair concluded that £30,384.00 had been allocated from the 2022/23 funding of £35,200.00 which left £4,816.00 remaining to be allocated at the December 2022 Western Area Committee meeting.

Resolved:

1)    That the Youth Provision Project be carried out three times and include The Meads and the amount allocated for this project was £6,930.00.

2)    That the Western Area Committee allocates £8,400.00 for Peter Bell to carry out Conservation Area Reviews at Bredgar and Hartlip. 

3)    That the Western Area Committee allocates £5,054.00 to refurbish the King George V toilet and officers look for an alternative wall covering. 

4)    That the Western Area Committee allocates £10,000.00 as a donation to Foodbanks providing they could give guarantees that the funding would be directed to residents in the Western Area and deliveries will be made to residents who could not travel.

5)    That officers work on a funding proposal and bring to the December 2022 meeting which would support residents who were having difficulties purchasing alternative heating products.