At the Full Council meeting held on Wednesday, 10th January, a number of organisations were awarded grants under the Town Council’s Community Grant funding scheme as well as the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Scheme.
Community Grant Funding is open once a year for applications from local groups and charities for either revenue funding or for capital projects to be carried out during the forthcoming financial year. Those organisations who will benefit under the Community Grant 2024/25 scheme are:
Alton Community Centre – £8,000
Alton Stroke Support Group – £500
Bushy Leaze Family Support – £10,000
Home-Start Hampshire (Alton) – £5,000
The Friendship Café – £1,130
Victim Support – £100
Jane Austen Regency Week – £500 (Event Grant)
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Annette Eyre said of the Community Grant funding scheme: “It is always a pleasure to be able to provide assistance to such worthwhile community organisations at a time when we all understand and appreciate the ever increasing demands for services against a backdrop of financial squeeze, and it is so important that Alton Town Council can help to take a little bit of pressure off of some of those struggling to maintain their much needed services”.
In contrast, the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund monies comes from the levy charged to developers for residential and commercial property building that takes place in the Town and is passed to the Town Council to administer. The Town Council must use these Neighbourhood CIL receipts to support the development of the Town Council’s area by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation, or maintenance of infrastructure; or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area.
Neighbourhood CIL funding was awarded to:
Wooteys School Campus – Electric Gates £10,000
Amery Hill Residents Association – Brewery Heritage Trail £22,000
Alton Cricket Club – Carpeting of cricket nets £8,000
Allen Gallery & Garden – Expansion of gallery offering & upgrade of garden £15,000
Alton Town Council – Development of a community office/meeting space £5,900
Treloar’s – Purchase of an electric bus £10,000