December 2024
Report by Borough Councillors
Cllrs Phil Bundy, Karen Dunleavey & Terese Swain
December 2024
More funding awarded through the Community Asset Fund
The second round of this year’s Community Asset Fund has awarded £125,000 to community projects in Test Valley.
The Community Asset Fund (CAF) awards grants of up to £25,000 and up to 50% of the cost of projects which provide new or enhance existing community assets and facilities.
The latest round has contributed to a diverse range of projects, including a new pavilion as an extension to the village hall in Nursling and Rownhams, installation of low carbon technology solar PV at Braishfield Village Hall, upgrading the Wellington Centre Community Facility where Purple Oak operate, a new electric community bus in Broughton and Mottisfont, and new tennis court surfaces in Wellow.
Winter Fuel Allowance
Following the Motion at Council on 16 October 2024, a letter has been sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the Leader urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are just above the threshold for Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty. As yet no response has been received.
The Department for Work and Pensions have been contacting existing benefit claimants who may be entitled to Pension Credit to raise awareness and encourage them to sign up if they are entitle to. The DWP have advised that 158 Housing Benefit recipients in Test Valley have been contacted. In addition to the work of DWP, the TVBC Finance and Revenues Team have used Council Tax Support data to contact 230 households who may be entitled to Pension Credit giving them advice on how to claim. Please note that the DWP have not been able to provide a list of residents they contacted so it is not possible to verify how many individual households have been contacted overall.
The council has provided further funding to enable the continuation of the Test Valley Winter Fuel Payment Scheme for those of pensionable age in the borough who need assistance with paying their bills. This scheme is administered in partnership with Unity and Citizens Advice. A communications plan has been developed to promote the funding available and to direct residents to sign up for Pension Credit where eligible. This includes news releases, sent to a variety of print, online and community publications, social posts, and articles in the council’s e-newsletter. In addition, flyers will be produced to be shared in key locations across the borough.
Defibrillator Fund
The Department of Health & Social Care is offering a £500,000 Community Automated External (AED) Fund, aimed at increasing the availability of defibrillators in public places where they are most needed.
Anyone based in England, and not be an organisation that is eligible for the Department of Education scheme, can apply.
To be eligible for a funded defibrillator people must be able to provide match funding for their application.
Please share the following link with any relevant networks: www.defibgrant.co.uk