Decision details

The report makes recommendations on the allocation of funding and vehicles in line with associated policies, and seeks approval of expressions of interest for large grants.  In all cases a detailed assessment of each application has been undertaken in line with the criteria for each scheme.

The Transport & Accessibility Grant Scheme and Vehicle Allocation Scheme will support community-led activities which improve access to essential services, such as healthcare, shopping, leisure and other destinations that are important to local residents. The applications which are recommended for award/shortlist best meet the criteria in improving access to services, particularly for disadvantaged groups, with a high level of community involvement and proposals to sustain the project into future.

In October 2013 Cabinet agreed the allocation of £250,000 for the Transport and Accessibility Grant Scheme from the approved 2013/14 base budget. The grant scheme operates two tiers of funding based on the value – small grants up to £9,999 and larger grants of over £10,000.   The value of the expressions of interest for large grants recommended for short listing will be dependent on the submission of detailed Business Cases/Plans due to be submitted by 17 February 2014.

At the same time Cabinet also agreed to allocate 9 Council-owned vehicles which are surplus to requirements to community and voluntary organisations.  The vehicles vary in age ranging from 9 to 4 years old and the policy makes clear that the vehicles are gifted in the condition as of the date of transfer. These donations will facilitate the development of community-led transport initiatives which are tailored to local needs. The Council received 11 applications and following the assessment it is proposed that all 9 vehicles are allocated.

Ten applications were made to the LSTF Business Travel Planning Grant Scheme and of these it is recommended that nine are awarded. 

1.    That approval be given to the recommendations listed below regarding the outcome of each small grant application (up to £9,999) through the Transport & Accessibility Grant Scheme. The total value of the applications recommended for award is £80,408.

Ref No            Organisation                                                    Recommendation

TAG 1             Community Transport, Macclesfield District Defer - £9,999

TAG 2             Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership    Award £2,439

TAG 3             North Staffs Community Rail Partnership      Award £1,624

TAG 6             rewe Christian Concern                                  Award £9,999

TAG 7             Audlem & District Community Action             Award £6,000

TAG 8             Goodwill Village Hall Association / CHALC    Not Award

TAG 9             Congleton Disabled Access Group                Award £9,999

TAG 11           Wishing Well Project                                       Award £8,350

TAG 16           Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership    Award £3,000

TAG 17           Disability Information Bureau (Macclesfield)             Not Award

TAG 18           Congleton Partnership                                    Award £9,999

TAG 20           Great Places Housing Association                 Not Award

TAG 21           Peaks and Plains Housing Trust                     Award £9,999

TAG 23           Odd Rode Parish Council                               Award £9,999

TAG 24           Open Hands, Poynton                                    Award £3,000

TAG 15           Disley Parish Council                                      Award £6,000

2.    That approval be given to the recommendations listed below regarding the short listing of expressions of interest for a large grant (over £10,000) through the Transport & Accessibility Grant Scheme, and that the applicants be invited to proceed to submission.  In addition that Cheshire Community Action be invited to accept instead the immediate award of a small grant (up to £9999) for which the information currently provided will suffice and no further submission of a Business Plan need be made.  The total value of the applications recommended for short listing is £81,586.

Ref No                      Organisation                                       Recommendation

TAG 25           Poynton Town Council                       Shortlist £18,000*

TAG 26           Poynton Town Council                       Shortlist £22,500*

TAG 13           Poynton Town Council                       Shortlist £30,000*

TAG 19           Cheshire Community Action              Shortlist £11,086*

TAG 22           Community Transport, Halifax           Not Shortlist

* Note that the final award value depends on Business Plan submission so the figures above are indicative at this stage.

3.    That approval be given to the recommendations listed below regarding the allocation/offer of 9 surplus Council vehicles to community and voluntary organisations.

Ref No            Organisation                                                             Recommendation

TAG 4             Rainow Parish Plan Implementation Group   Offer Vehicle

TAG 5             Crewe YMCA                                                 Offer Vehicle

TAG 10           Congleton Disabled Access Group                Decline

TAG 12           Macclesfield Town Community Sports Trust Offer Vehicle

TAG 15           Disley Parish Council                                      Offer Vehicle

TAG13                        Poynton Town Council                                   Offer Vehicle

TAG 14           Calveley & Acton Primary Schools                Offer Vehicle

TAG 29           Congleton Partnership                                    Offer Vehicle

TAG 22           Community Transport, Halifax                       Decline

TAG 28           Odd Rode Parish Council                               Offer Vehicle

TAG 27           Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme                   Offer Vehicle

4.    That approval be given to the recommendations listed below regarding the outcome of each application for an LSTF Business Travel Planning Grant. The total value of the applications recommended for award is £38,810.

Ref No            Organisation                                                             Recommendation

LSTF 1            Cheshire Bespoke Ltd                                    Award £4,999

LSTF 2            Christian Concern                                           Award £3,925

LSTF 3            Leighton Hospital                                            Award £4,999

LSTF 4            Manchester Metropolitan University (1)         Award £4,999

LSTF 5            Manchester Metropolitan University (2)         Award £4,999

LSTF 6            South Cheshire College                                  Award £4,999

LSTF 7            Storage Boost (Crewe) Ltd                             Award £4,750

LSTF 8            Trax Commercial Ltd                                      Defer - £4,750

LSTF 9            The Up and Under Group Ltd                         Award £4,096

LSTF 10          The Up and Under Foundation Ltd                 Award £1,044