Decisions

At its meeting of 18th January 2023, Council approved the use of UKSPF funds to deliver the council’s Cultural Strategy.

At the same meeting, Council delegated decision-making authority to the Head of Housing and Health, acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Communities regarding cultural activities.

The grant is being made to Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts to fund a feasibility study, that will be conducted between January and March 2025, aimed at understanding and mapping the gaps in service provision for residents in rural areas of East Hertfordshire with regard to accessing cultural and advice services.

The work will see Community Alliance:
• develop a community engagement model which could be used in communities across East Hertfordshire to empower communities, identify community need, facilitate access to services and deliver sustainable change
• carry out a mapping of existing digital skills and financial capability provision across the district, these factors being recognised barriers to accessing cultural and advice services
• identify gaps in service provision and current unmet needs
• make recommendations to ensure that partner organisations are working together to optimise delivery in East Herts
• produce an evaluation report.

This feasibility study will inform longer-term planning to address needs, principally though not exclusively for residents in rural areas. The intention is to use the outcomes / recommendations of this feasibility study as the evidence based for external funding bids to secure longer term benefits of the council’s time-limited UPSPF monies.

Provide a grant of £10,000 to Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts to conduct a feasibility study to build on the UKSPF-funded community assets and digital inclusion work to identify the scope of and ways to bridge the gap between residents, primarily in rural areas, and the cultural and advice services available so as to facilitate access.

At its meeting of 18th January 2023, Council approved the use of UKSPF funds to promote sustainability works, notably to reduce carbon emissions, and to deliver the council’s Cultural Strategy.

At the same meeting, Council delegated decision-making authority to the Head of Housing and Health, acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability regarding environmental grants and contracts and in consultation with the Executive Member for Communities regarding cultural activities.

The grants will contribute to works at five village halls which have been identified in decarbonisation assessments, previously funded through the UKSPF, conducted by Utility Aid. They will contribute to lowering the carbon emissions of the halls.

Another grant is being made to Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts for work to follow-on from their previously funded developmental and administrative support for the Arts in East Herts programme. This grant will fund works to support the continuation of the programme beyond the UKSPF funding period.

Fund grants for five village halls to contribute to carbon reduction works as identified in decarbornisation plans previously supported by UKSPF-funded carbon reduction assessments. The grants being:
• Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall - £1,011.11
• Hunsdon Village Hall - £3,263.51
• Much Hadham Village - £4,922.73
• Parsonage Community Hall, Bishop’s Stortford - £1,998.93
• Westmill Village Hall - £469.48.

A grant of £6,095 to Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts to conduct an evaluation of the Arts in East Herts programme to be used a basis for future external funding bids and establish a steering group of East Herts cultural providers to oversee, develop and continue Arts in East Herts in future years.

To renew the lease for an existing business tenancy in accordance with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

To grant a new 20 year lease to The Scout Association

To re-let shop and flat to maintain rental income until property is required for redevelopment

To grant a new 3 year lease to include a landlord break option