- Project Summary
The Council has been working with Campsie Memorial Hall (CMH) Trust to develop proposals for the regeneration of the outdated Campsie Memorial Hall to provide a state of the art accessible and flexible community facility, which will better meet the needs of users and the wider community. Collective Architecture were appointed in February 2021 to consider options and prepare costed design proposals (Concept Design RIBA 2). Community and stakeholder consultations secured overwhelming support to regenerate the Hall, to establish priorities for improvement to fabric of facilities and of additional services and activities to meet needs and reduce poverty. This has helped inform the preferred option to refurbish and adapt the building, and replace the 1950s extension with a sustainable and innovatively designed new build extension. The cost plan confirmed a budget of £1.9m for capital works and fees.
- Regeneration Capital Grant Fund
The best funding fit for this community based capital project was the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF). Delivered through local government, RCGF supports locally developed place based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, disadvantaged and fragile remote communities across Scotland. Local led initiatives will achieve transformative change and physical, social and economic regeneration outcomes.
RCGF has provided an annual round of applications (total fund of approximately £25m per annum) since 2014. In the latest round for 2022/23, the Council submitted a bid for £1.3 million with the remaining £600,000 match funding to be allocated from the Place budget within the 10 Year Capital Investment Plan as per PNCA/098/21/DG.
- Scottish Government Decision and Feedback
Scottish Government RCGF panel confirmed in December 2021, the bid was unsuccessful, identifying the following key points to address:
- More evidence to support the wider transformative impact of the project,
- Demonstrate the additional benefit and strong regeneration outcomes that the project would directly deliver,
- Provide more details on timescales,
- Evidence deliverability and readiness to start in 2022/23,
The Panel however agreed the bid will be held in reserve for 2022/23 should there be an opportunity for reallocation of funds from within budget and if these issues are resolved.
- Regeneration Capital Grant Fund Timelines
If progress can be made to resolve issues for a revised bid and if Scottish Government has capacity to reallocate budget there may be potential for funding in spring 2022. In this scenario, the project would still require to draw grant during the year 2022/23.
Alternatively, the Council can revise proposal and resubmit a bid for round 10 of RCGF 2023/24, which will be launched in spring 2022. Stage 1 deadline in summer 2022 and Stage 2 in autumn and if successful for funding to be in place for next financial year 2023/24. RCGF offers a realistic timeframe of spend over two years for completion of work by 31/3/25.
- Strengthening the Hall Regeneration Proposal
A follow up meeting has already been held with the CMH Trustees to gather further opinions on local priorities, unmet needs and what can be provided from an improved Hall to reduce disadvantage. This information will be needed to submit a revised bid in spring 2022.
Regeneration and Town Centres (RTC) will continue working in partnership with Community Planning Partnership (CPP) to identify ways in which the Hall and the Trust can have a stronger role in tackling disadvantage and to provide activities and services in conjunction with wider partners. CPP has an ongoing commitment to Lennoxtown as one of the ‘Place Areas’, to enable a community led approach to tackling inequalities and reducing disadvantage.There is recognition of the need for further capacity building with the Trust (increased membership, volunteering and community action) and community development work to engage with the community to co-design services and opportunities that will be made available from the Hall.
Justify need for new facility:
- Demonstrate issues and barriers posed by current Hall which prevents usage and service delivery by CMH Trust, CPP and others
- Demonstrate issues and barriers posed by current Hall to develop and deliver future short, medium and long-term initiatives
- Demonstrate demand identified through past Place Plans and Feasibility Studies,
- Action Plan to Strengthen Proposal
Community Development Pilot Projects: CMH Trust has secured £3,000 Inspiring Scotland Rural Ideas into Action Grant 14/1/22 (tutor, training and resource costs) to work with CPP to offer community development and community health programmes which could help pilot initiatives such as the food pantry, community meals events, volunteering, health and social enterprise to inform longer term programmes. This can evidence approach for long term delivery.
Capacity Building Grant: CMH Trust has secured £2,700 Rural Communities Testing Change Fund, December 2021 (part time cleaner, sanitising, web design and online bookings invoice system) to increase the capacity of the Trust and to raise profile of the Hall and regeneration project across the community. CMHT met with Business Gateway advisers of marketing and customer engagement practices to inform web design and social media approaches. Liaison with East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) will support Trust capacity building & explore opportunities for social enterprise.
Place Planning: A further opportunity to strengthen the role of the Trust and the Hall at the heart of the community is the refresh of the Place Plans (ongoing to spring 2022) if consultation and a specific focus group discussion around the Hall can identify priorities and ways in which the improved facility can meet local needs and demands.
As part of stakeholder engagement (April to June 2021) 21 organisations including 10 new groups not currently available in Lennoxtown, were supportive of accessing the improved Hall facilities to offer services and support. This was across 3 key themes: Community Food, Community Services (mental health, addictions, family support, education, employability) and Arts & Culture. Further engagement with organisations will develop more detail of this activity and how it can be designed to meet needs and address regeneration outcomes.
- Demonstrate Deliverability of the Project
RCGF feedback also questioned the deliverability of the project in 2022/23 and further work by RTC (pre planning discussions, some level of site investigations, options appraisal of procurement routes, building condition surveys) will add to the RIBA Concept Design Plan in place.
- Revised RCGF Application
The above sets out an approach for RTC to work with CMHT and stakeholders to demonstrate the additional benefit and regeneration outcomes which can be included in a revised RCGF bid. RTC will liaise with RCGF to update progress on addressing the points raised by the panel, to identify potential for budget allocation in 2022/23 or to confirm the proposal will be submitted for the next round of RCGF in spring 2022 for 2023/24.