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Issue - meetings
Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Icemaker Grant Request
Meeting: 19/03/2018 - Charity Committee (Item 29)
29 Request for grant for Hastings Fishermarket Enterprises PDF 119 KB
Minutes:
The External Funding Manager stated that there was a correction to the agenda, in that the grant applicant was the Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society (HFPS). He then presented a report on a grant to allocate funding to the HFPS. The report sought approval from the Foreshore Trust on the allocation of a grant to the HFPS to contribute towards the cost of replacing their icemaker, with the resulting project budget being paid from by the FLAG Programme.
He stated the importance of the icemaker to the Hastings fishing fleet and the community, including its importance in Hasting Borough Council’s fish fairs and other community events held on the Stade and the beach.
A question was raised by the Protector in regards to the charitable purpose of the grant as a private commercial business benefitting from the grant money would not meet the Trust’s objectives. Officers responded that the icemaker was a community asset and the fish fleet relies on it to remain sustainable.
HFPS are a not-for-profit organisation. The fishermen pay for their own ice. The grant will not subsidise any other body. The Chief Legal officer advised that the benefit to the community needed to be weighed against any potential profit to HFPS. Officers confirmed there would be no profit to HFPS.
Councillor Poole proposed approval of the recommendations to report, which was seconded by Councillor Batsford.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
1. To give delegated authority to the Director of Operational Services or his nominee in consultation with the chair of the Charity Committee to issue to HFPS a grant payment of 20% towards the FLAG icemaker project (up to £16,000 grant), for this approved project application.
The reason for this decision was:
HFPS have applied and received approval for funding through the FLAG programme to replace their icemaker. The grant intervention rate from the European Maritime Fisheries (FLAG) Fund is 80% of the project costs. For the remaining 20% match needed, several other funding sources have been explored. Unfortunately the other sources of funding are ineligible due to several reasons, including the creation of jobs vs safeguarding jobs.
Additionally the Hastings fishing fleet, of under 10 metre boats and beach launched, working within the current quota system means that income and finances can fluctuate.
Due to this quota allocating, the fish market cannot process sufficient fish to enable repayment of any loans offered to it at this time. This project will therefore not happen if HFPS cannot secure a grant for the 20% match.
A Foreshore Trust grant, along with the FLAG funding, will enable HFPS to replace their icemaker with resulting benefits.
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