Community link officer for Bude, Chris Sims, explained to the panel and members of the public present that the broadband and toilets projects are ‘in the final stages’, and one of the parishes awarded will soon receive an award letter.
The meeting also heard that the devolution fund has been reopened, with a total of £5,113.28 up for grabs, and all parish councils should have received a letter with details of the fund.
Three applications have already been submitted, which Mr Sims explained in more detail to the panel.
The first application was from Poundstock Parish Council, to transfer the running of the toilets to the council, carry out a refurbishment and continue the running of the toilets, following the transfer of ownership. Poundstock applied for £4,000 of the devolution fund to carry this project out.
Mr Sims’ comments on this application were that it did meet the requirements of the devolution fund. However, it was noted that Cornwall Council has already invested money in the Poundstock toilets for some refurbishments.
Cornwall Councillor, Nicky Chopak, chair of the panel, said: “The toilets in Poundstock are definitely not fit for purpose.”
The second application on the agenda was from Launcells Parish Council, who had asked for £780 for a community defibrillator, as well as providing community training for the device.
Mr Sims told the meeting: “My comments on this are, yes, it is eligible for funding, as long as the panel are convinced it demonstrates enough partnership working.”
The third application to be discussed was from Whitstone Parish Council, who were asking for £1,283.04p for broadband in St Anne’s village hall.
Mr Sims explained that this money would be purely for running costs, but demonstrated enough partnership working, as it would be helping the council and local community groups and organisations.
He said: “However, Whitstone are asking for money that is significantly higher than the other broadband projects we have dealt with before. It is up to the panel to make a decision.”
It was then time for the community network panel to come to a decision about which application should receive part of the devolution fund.
Town mayor, Cllr Lea Deely, suggested that the first two applications should be paid for, and reinforced the idea that Launcells’ application to pay for a community defibrillator was slightly more urgent.
However, Mr Sims added that a total of £333.28p would be left if the first two applications were funded.
A member of the panel then suggested that the first two applications could be scaled down slightly.
Another added: “£4,000 is a lot of money just for one project!”
Cllr Deely continued: “I’m slightly worried, because the defibrillator is in a different category. Launcells is quite far out from any services, so I feel a defibrillator is more important.”
The panel then came to the conclusion that the three applications would be dropped by 12.5%.
Cllr Deely added: “That’s fine, but I would favour that the defibrillator is given more priority than the other two. I would like that noted down, please.”
The panel have therefore allocated £3,370 to Poundstock Parish Council; £660 to Launcells Parish Council; and £1,083.28 to Whitstone Parish Council.
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