Purpose

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

An application for Community Funding has been received from Sarisbury and District Community Centre Association for £4,500 from the Community Fund towards the replacement of the main entrance doors at Sarisbury Community Centre. 

Sarisbury Green Community Centre is a busy community facility with a range of user groups. A number of regular users of the centre have mobility issues, are wheelchair users or use walking aids. The current main entrance has inner and outer double doors that need opening manually and those with mobility issues can struggle to gain access.  

The project involves removing the existing doors and wooden structure surrounding the doors and replacing them with a new set of double automatic opening doors. The company who will be carrying out the works will use local installers and a local engineer to cover the services and repairs in the future.  

An additional consequence of this project would be that the building would be more energy efficient, thus reducing heating costs. Unfortunately, the current doors have warped creating drafts and heat loss. 

Sarisbury and District Community Centre Association have identified that the total cost of the replacement entrance doors is £14,839.67 and are requesting a contribution of £4,500 from the Council’s Community Fund. The remainder of the funds required can be met by the Association from bar donations (£4,500) and their own funds (£5,839.67). 

As of 5 April, Sarisbury and District Community Centre Association held £35,830.14 in their accounts. In the accounting year Jan-Dec 2022 there was an income of £87,550.41 and expenditure of £63,579.74. 

Both Ward Councillors, Councillor Woodward and Councillor Burton, are fully supportive of this request. 

Decision

RESOLVED that this application be approved.