The meeting was scheduled to discuss applications to the South Oxfordshire Capital Grant Scheme. The applications were first reviewed at the meeting of the Community Grants Panel on the 29 February 2024, where the Panel agreed to note them and officers conducted further investigation into each applicant's proposal. The purpose of this meeting was to review the scores given to each of the applications by officers and to make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing about which projects to fund.

The Berin Centre - Community cafe landscaping, furnishing and decoration

The Berin Centre requested £75,000 towards the total cost of £559,611 to build a new carbon-neutral community cafe and multi-purpose space in Berinsfield. Officers scored the project 27 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The cafe would be open part-time and the remaining time would be used by the Berin Centre to deliver services and provide space to other groups and organisations. The building would be constructed to be carbon-neutral, generating more energy than it needs from solar panels, with excess energy being provided to the National Grid. The centre noted that they would use the project to tell the story of their net zero journey and will encourage others to also adopt climate friendly behaviours.

Long Wittenham Parish Council - Acklings playground upgrade

The Parish Council requested £42,947 towards the total cost of £85,895 to build a new playground on Acklings Field in Long Wittenham, a village play area that has been in existence for 40 years. Officers scored the project 26 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The playground will be built to augment the play equipment already present at the east end of the village. The Council stated that they would be mindful of ensuring the playground was accessible and specifically looked into how they could make it more appealing to girls and neurodivergent people. They plan to use CIL funds to cover the rest of the cost of the project.

Little Milton Parish Council - Installation of solar panels on the Little Milton Shop/Post Office building

The Parish Council requested £9,060 towards the total cost of £18,120 to install solar panels on the roof of the Little Milton Shop/Post Office in Little Milton. Officers scored the project 21 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The Council argued that the project would help ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of the Shop/Post Office, which is considered to be an important facility by the community, ensuring that it continues to play a vital role in the village's wellbeing.

Thame Sports Club Limited - Solar panel installation

Thame Sports Club Limited requested £7,421 towards the total cost of £14,842 to install solar panels at Thame Sports Club in Thame. Officers scored the project 21 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The Club argued that the project was part of their long-term objective to move towards green living and that it was a key part of the Thame Green Living initiative.¹

Thame Green Living are an organisation committed to promoting sustainability in Thame. They have produced a 10-year plan to promote a cleaner and greener way of life for the town.

River & Rowing Museum Foundation - Solar PV panels: a Greener Future

The Foundation requested £44,637 towards the total cost of £89,276 to install solar panels on the roof of the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. Officers scored the project 20 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The Foundation argued that the project was crucial to ensure the long-term financial viability of the museum, which has suffered financially due to having zero visitors during the COVID pandemic whilst simultaneously undertaking an expensive building repair project. They argued that they would use the project to educate people about green energy.

Lewknor Parish Council - Installation of solar panels

The Council requested £6,100 towards the total cost of £12,200 to install solar panels on the roof of Lewknor Village Hall in Lewknor. Officers scored the project 19 out of 32, recommending it be funded at 75% of the requested amount.

The Council argued that the project was the first step on their journey to becoming carbon-neutral. They argued that the existing oil-fired boilers are becoming too expensive to run and that they would like to avoid replacing them with similar boilers, eventually moving to an entirely green energy solution. They argued that the installation of the solar panels would be a key step on this journey.

Tiddington with Albury Parish Council - Playground upgrade

The Parish Council requested £11,000 towards the total cost of £27,445 to install new equipment at the playground in the Tiddington recreation area in Tiddington With Albury. Officers scored the project 18 out of 32, recommending it be funded at 75% of the requested amount.

The Council argued that the project would enhance the playground and help bring the community together in a parish where the population is geographically dispersed. They plan to cover the rest of the project costs from VAT reclaims and an application for funding to the National Lottery Community Fund.

Wallingford Rowing Club - Purchasing two new pairs/doubles boats

Wallingford Rowing Club requested £12,753 towards the total cost of £25,506 to purchase two new racing boats. Officers scored the project 16 out of 32, recommending it be fully funded.

The club argued that the boats would be used by both junior and senior rowers and that because they are competitive-level boats, they would provide opportunities for the Club's most talented rowers to compete at the highest levels, including potentially for Great Britain.

The club noted that whilst they are a sports club, they endeavour to make their facilities accessible to as wide a range of people as possible by, for example, offering free membership for refugees, and reduced membership rates for the elderly and economically disadvantaged.

The documents submitted by the club show that they plan to fund the rest of the cost of the boats through a combination of their own funds and fundraising activities.

Other applications

In addition to those mentioned above, the following applications were also scheduled for discussion at the meeting:

• Thame Town Cricket Club Limited - Solar Panels controls housing (£7,421 requested towards the total project cost of £7,421).
• South Stoke Community Shop - Community Shop Rebuild Project (£75,000 requested towards the total project cost of £392,000).
• Tetsworth Parish Council - play area surface replacement (£25,000 requested towards the total project cost of £35,000).
• 1st Goring Heath Scout Group - scout hut window replacement and access ramp project (£7,915 requested towards the total project cost of £7,915).
• Didcot District Guide Association - refurbishment of our hall (£30,000 requested towards the total project cost of £40,000).
• Berinsfield Parish Council - new high pedestal slide (£5,000 requested towards the total project cost of £6,667).
• St Leonard's Parochial Church Council - St Leonard's church bells restoration (£10,000 requested towards the total project cost of £150,000).
• SHEDQUARTERS - SHEDquarters workshop (£9,661 requested towards the total project cost of £9,661).
• Henley Town Football Club - facility for improvements, upgrade and maintenance. Mower and machinery and equipment storage (£30,000 requested towards the total project cost of £40,000).

The report pack also contains minutes from the previous meeting of the Panel held on 29 February 2024 (Minutes Public Pack 29022024 Community Grants Panel), and the agenda for the current meeting. It also contains the reports pack that was provided to attendees (Public reports pack Thursday 12-Dec-2024 09.30 Community Grants Panel).