VILLAGE HALL NEWS SHEET November 2010

Welcome to the November update on what’s going on with the new Village Hall. We are making good progress and have had more success with fundraising. So, here’s where we are up to, what’s happened and what’s planned.

Finance
The overall plan has always been to deliver the Hall with no funding from the Parish Precept and we still believe this is possible.

Grant Funding
• The grant application to the Tesco Community Fund has been successful and we have received a cheque for £20,000.
• We have a number of other grant applications in hand with strong likelihood of success, especially with the Football Association for improved Changing facilities.
• The Big Lottery Fund Community Buildings Programme has been re-launched and we are looking at this for potential funding.

Loans
At this stage, we are still around £140,000 short of our target and, depending on tender prices received and other funding streams, it may still be necessary for us to apply for a loan from the Public Works Loan Board. We have made an ‘in principle’ application and the initial response has been very favourable. We should know the outcome by early December.

Design, Planning and Construction
• Some further minor changes in the Hall’s layout will require a further planning application and this is being done in parallel to finalising tender documents.
• Every change is being carefully scrutinised with a view to keeping costs down, whilst still providing a quality building.

Business Planning
• KPMG, our retained business and financial advisors, are currently going through our plans and will be offering advice on business and financial risk and ensuring out plans are viable.
• Before we make the final decision to award tenders or not, we will get professional financial and legal sign-off for the project.

Communication and Consultation
• The information day at the Methodist Chapel on 13 November went really well with almost 100 people coming to see the latest plans, discuss any issues to do with the new hall and get a better understanding of what is proposed.
We also got a number of volunteers to help with the project.
• The door to door survey of all residents has been put back a couple of weeks due to print delays and will start on 5 December.
This will allow us to get more detail on how people want to use the hall.• As the plans are developed, the latest versions will be displayed in the Methodist Chapel, so everyone can see the progress being made.

Key questions asked at the information day
Is it just a sports hall?
• No, it will be a hall for ALL kinds of recreation, including arts, and crafts, culture, meeting friends, coffee mornings and sports too.
Why is it this design?
• Peter Brown’s original design was for a hall based on a Norfolk Barn theme.
This is what has been agreed with the planners. The size is the minimum we believe is needed to cater for the majority of activities requested in the original survey and from what we have seen in other thriving village halls.
What about community fundraising?
• The New Build Team so far, has been concentrating on the big capital finances. However, we will need to start fundraising as a community as soon as we give the go ahead to start construction.
To help this, we are looking for community fundraising champions to come forward and help organise fundraising activities, especially for the “softer” elements of the hall, such as equipment, furniture and the external environment.
What can I do to help?
• The construction will be done by the main contractor. However, before the build starts, we will need help in moving the play equipment to its new location on the field, probably in February.
We have some volunteers from the information day, but if you want to help, get in touch with Shirley Sainsbury on 598882.
How are the Parish Council and the Charity working to deliver this project?
• The only possible location for the new hall with the right facilities is on the playing field.
• If it goes there, it has to be a Playing Field Charity asset.
• But, as the Parish Council is making a major contribution, it needs to ensure that the Charity allows free and open use of the hall.
• This will be achieved by a legal contract between the two bodies. The contract will be approved by two sets of solicitors, acting for the Charity and the Parish Council respectively.
Isn’t there a conflict of interest between the Charity and the Parish Council?
• No. The conduct of the people involved, the appointment of independent advisors and two sets of solicitors and the legal agreement between the two parties ensures that any potential or perceived conflict is overcome.

Next Steps……
Archaeology
One of the planning conditions is a requirement to undertake an examination of the remains of the anti aircraft battery from World War 2. We have provided what information we have and people will be on site soon to “have a look”.

Any questions?
As ever, if you have any questions or issues, please contact Shirley Sainsbury on 588882, so that they can be answered.