Issue - meetings

To consider an application for a capital grant of £65,000 as a contribution towards the cost of development works that have attracted funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)             That, should the Trust secure all the other sources of funding necessary for the project to proceed, a capital grant award of £65,000 be made to the St Barbe’s Trust through the contribution grant application process as a contribution towards the cost of the planned development project that has attracted funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund; and

(b)            That should be the capital grant be paid, it be agreed in principle that no future revenue support grants shall be paid.

The Cabinet was advised that the St Barbe’s Trust had secured a grant of £1.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund as a contribution towards the cost of the planned refurbishment of the St Barbe’s Museum and Art Gallery, Lymington.  The total cost of the project was £2.345 million, with the Trust responsible for raising the balance from other sources.  The building was owned by this Council and leased to the Trust on a peppercorn rent.  The Council had awarded a revenue grant of £9,000 this year to support the Trust’s delivery of the museum and art gallery.  A revenue grant had been paid annually since 2006.

The Trust was seeking a capital grant of £65,000 from this Council, with the grant paid over a 2 year period.  Confirmation of the award of the grant would secure consent from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project to commence.

The Cabinet noted that the Trust’s business plan projected that the investment would increase visitor numbers and consequently income.  The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel had questioned whether this Council should therefore continue to pay an annual revenue grant, if this capital investment was made.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)             That, should the Trust secure all the other sources of funding necessary for the project to proceed, a capital grant award of £65,000 be made to the St Barbe’s Trust through the contribution grant application process as a contribution towards the cost of the planned development project that has attracted funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund; and

(b)            That should be the capital grant be paid, it be agreed in principle that no future revenue support grants shall be paid.