Agenda item

The Climate and Environment Project Officer introduced the scheme, explaining they provide funds to Parish Councils and Community groups to organise projects which help reduce carbon emissions and engage communities on climate change.

The report was for members to present officer recommendations on the allocations of grants funding applied to 2022 – 2023 round of grants for the committee to recommend to the Lead Cabinet Member.

It was noted that £120,554 was available for the 2022 – 2023 round which included the underspend of £20,554 from the previous year. Applications were accepted on the basis of two separate categories,, Carbon Emission Reduction / Locking up Carbon and Community Engagement on Climate Change.

It was advised the advisory committee of February 2022 agreed to split the funds, with 70% to Carbon Emission Reduction / Locking up Carbon and 30% to Community Engagement on Climate Change, with, members  invited to consider adjusting the split.

The Committee were reminded that applications for 2022-2023 were open between 21 March 2022 and 17 June 2022 and received 22 applications.

with grants requested could be between £1500 and 15,000 per project and the total funding applied of the current year amounted to £190,330 exceeding previous years.

Applications were assessed and scored by two officer panels using a methodology set out in Appendix C, scores were collated and set out in appendix A.

The Grants Advisory Committee were reminded of the meeting in February 2022, where the Committee recommended £15,000 to be set aside for a community climate leader training programme which was applied, receiving highest scores in the community engagement category, shown in Appendix A, Table 2, Cambridge Carbon Project.

There were eleven applications from ten organisations totalling to £104,126 as seen in Appendix A and the scoring was across three criteria, with 33% allocated to each, projected Carbon Emission Reduction, Additional Value and Lifetime Impact, as set out in Appendix A. Out of the eleven applications, seven were to be funded, leaving the following four unfunded:

·         Hope against poverty, requested £4700. A Cambourne based project that collected food from supermarkets and outlets, although scored well in Added Value and Lifetime Impact, they scored less on Carbon Reduction.

·         Cambridgeshire’s Citizens Advice Bureau, requested £15,000 to fund 42 solar panels for their building with 25% percent of their customers being South Cambridgeshire residents this enabled them eligible for funding. Although panels would result in quantifiable savings, the application did not show any previous actions on reducing emissions.

·         Landbeach Village Hall Charitable, requested £14,035 for a solar PV array which although showed good measurable carbon savings, there was no match offered and no independent report provided. The application scored lower in Additional Value.

·         Milton Community Centre Recreation Ground applied for two grants, an interior and exterior lighting system, totalling to £6,847 and a battery storage system totalling to £13,296. The latter scored higher resulting in the interior and exterior lighting application of £6,847 to go unfunded.

The second category contained ten applications totalling to £86,204.

The Committee were reminded that Cambridge Carbon Footprint requested £15,000 which was granted from the funds set aside form previous years underspend, leaving nine applications totalling to £71,204 and reminded the scoring was across three criteria’s, Community Engagement Impact, Additional Value and Lifetime Impact.

It was recorded the following applications did not score high enough and therefore were unfunded:

·         Oakington Primary with a request of £4,958.99 for educational environment and biodiversity activities.

·         Great Shelford Parochial Charities with a request of £3,462.98 for a tree planting project.

·         Babraham Parish council with a request of £4,500.00 for video documentation of a forest garden project which was funded from a ZCC grant previously.

·         A10 Corridor Cycle Campaign with a request of £1,353.60 for bike stands.

·         Northstowe culture association with a request of £14,000 for a composting toilet on the allotment.

Three applications, however, would be eligible for the community chest grant instead.

Councillor Daniel Lentell, Vice-Chair of the Committee, advised he was in support of Northstowe Culture Association’s request for the compostable toilet.

Councillor Jose Hales asked the Climate and Environment Project Officer to read through the application of Northstowe culture association as to why the grant was refused, and the Committee were advised it was a good project, but the justification may have lowered the scoring compared to other applications. The Development Officer for Climate and Environment encouraged the association to apply to the lotteries fund or elsewhere.The Development Officer for Community-Led Plans advised the project would potentially attract more people to tend to the allotments, but not enough information was provided, including the emissions compared to traditional toilets and if the grant application was successful, whether they could raise another £1000.

Councillor Bill Handley was supportive of the project and encouraged the association to request for a grant elsewhere.

With regards to the Lets Cook application, Councillor Daniel Lentell enquired about the successful stories quoted in application as to what the year was. The Climate and Environment Project Officer advised he could not find any dates from the papers but would review this.

After a short discussion, the Committee were advised, by affirmation the Carbon Emissions Reduction at Appendix A.

Community Engagement on Climate Change -Table 2

All applications were in favour with the following:

·         Cambridgeshire Carbon Footprint

·         Cambridgeshire Sustainable food

·         Sheddit!

·         Sustainable Northstowe

The application for Let’s Cook were discussed by the Committee.

Councillor Daniel Lentell stated during the cost-of-living crisis people would likely be unable to afford to attend the club.

Councillor John Williams, the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, was in full support of the application.

Councillor Sunita Hansraj stated television programmes and YouTube training videos were widely available to teach people to cook.

Councillor Bill Handley questioned whether the application of £15,000 was excessive. Councillor Sue Ellington was also in support of the application.

The Development Officer (Community-Led Plans)explained it had a proven track record elsewhere in the country, providing physical, mental and emotional health benefits, reduction in food waste, ability to cook and eat on a budget, improvement of self-confidence and reducing self-isolation. It was stated there had been lots of engagement within the community and there was an involvement in primary schools and supporting of young adult carers.

The Community Development Officer noted the Children and Young People grant funded Lets Cook in the previous year and they had not applied elsewhere for part funding.

The application went into vote, with three Members supportive, and two against with the Lead Cabinet Member of Resources to have final delegation.