Decisions

Details of decision:

1)  Huish Tigers CIC -

A bid for a contribution (£5269) towards the equipment costs related to the set-up of a new not-for- profit community voluntary group formed ‘The Huish Tigers’ who formulated plans under a club committee to turn a 6 acre grass field containing a rifle range originally unused by the MOD for several years into a playing area for community sport. There is a need for further equipment to address and maintain this area which will provide access for sport players and the general public.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee were supportive of the aims of the organisation and recommended that the applicants be awarded a contribution of £3973 to fund all of the capital equipment costs, minus the goal posts. The applicants were encouraged to apply to a relevant sports funding organisation for this element.

2)  Friends of Longrun Meadow/ Somerset Environmental Records Centre –

A bid for a contribution of at least £800 to support the £1450 shortfall in support of a Wildlife Project (total cost £9,900) in Taunton. The project involves engaging the local communities in Taunton in a project to record wildlife 'observations and sightings’, whether on the meadow, parks, schools or in their gardens across Taunton. The information will then be available for all to see through the map so that individuals are able to gain a good understanding of the wildlife and habitats that exists in their midst and be motivated and encouraged to act to protect the habitats that support diverse range of wildlife in our town/locality.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended unanimously to support the application and recommended a contribution of £800 towards this project.

3)  Eaton Crescent Neighbourhood Watch –

A bid in principle for up to approximately £650 and a further £250.00 to fund the labour and installation by the DLO of a metal and lockable Information Board on the green space, Eaton Crescent Estate in Taunton.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended to support the application to a maximum of £900 costs in total, with any funds unspent to be returned to the Unparished Fund.

4)  Taunton Town Centre Working Group –

A bid for approximately £750.00 to replace a knocked down floodlight column on The West Wing of the Market House, next to the bus stop which would help support the wider plans to upgrade the lighting infrastructure around the Market House.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended that the bid was supported to a maximum of £750.00 in total, with any funds unspent to be returned to the Unparished Fund.

5) Councillor Martin Peters –

A bid for £1046.24 to enable a new dog bin to be installed by the Galmington Stream adjacent to Ramshorn Green, off Manor Orchard. The bid covers the costs of the bin plus installation (approximately £420) and emptying it over the following two year period.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended that the bid was supported.

6)  Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey -

A bid for £1046.24 to enable a new dog bin to be installed adjacent to Holley Close, on the path that runs down Hawthorn Drive, Taunton. The bid covers the costs of the bin plus installation (approximately £420) and emptying it over the following two year period.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended that the bid was supported.

7)  Councillor Derek Perry

A bid for £2092.48 to enable two new dog bins to be installed by Killams Green Open Space. The bid covers the costs of the bin plus installations (approximately £420) and emptying them over the following two year period.

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended that the bid was supported.

8)  Councillor Fran Smith -

A bid for approximately £1200 to fund the installation of a bench in the Blackbrook and Holway Ward. The bid covers the costs of the bench plus installation (approximately £400).

RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee recommended that the bid was supported to a maximum cost of £1400, with any underspend returned to the Unparished Fund.

Total: £12,007.96

*Dog Bins – All new dog bins installed to be collected by the District Council until May 2023, at which point the future determination of permanent liability for payment will have been decided as part of the Governance review for the Unparished Area of Taunton. It was agreed that Councillor Lisgo would work with the Clerk to design a streamlined process for approving new dog bins. SWT to be requested to provide a spreadsheet of all current dog bins in the Unparished Area of Taunton.

Details of decision: 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation is to make a discretionary grant payment of £30,000 to Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust and a discretionary grant of £29,959 to Wiveliscombe Community Centre.

Reasons for proposed decision: 

PLANNING APPLICATION: 49/13/0001

SITE ADDRESS: Land to North of Style Road, Style Road, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, TA4 2LN

DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION: Residential development comprising of 32 dwellings with associated works and landscaping and construction of link Road to Heathstock Hill at Land to North of Style Road, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, TA4 2LN

Regarding the Section 106 agreement there were two payments receipted by the Council:

1.         Community Halls payment £36,849.28 paid on 23 July 2015, which was spent within five years of the date of payment

2.         Public Art payment £59,959 paid on 23 July 2015, needed to be spent within five years of the date of payment – no scheme came forward.   

In summary: the planning obligation relating to the Public Art payment lapsed during the Covid lockdown of 2020. With the time limit on the original agreement lapsed the developer formally requested the repayment of the Public Art contribution. That transaction was actioned and the monies returned to the original developer.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, working in conjunction with the local District Council Members, agreed a discretionary grant payment to ensure the local community were not disadvantaged by the decision of the developer to request the repayment of the Public Art contribution.

A total sum of £59,959 which equates to the original Public Art contribution

Alternative funding options sourced:

Nil