Funding will keep village halls at the heart of our community

Funding announced by the Liberal Democrat run district council will keep village halls at the heart of our communities. Parliamentary candidate Tim Farron and council leader Peter Thornton have welcomed the £80,000 of grants for community centres and village halls across the South Lakes.

The funding will go to:

• Selside Memorial Hall - Heating source for underfloor heating - £13,972.42
• Sedbergh People's Hall - for a community gym - £9,464
• Holme Parish Hall - to refurbish the hall - £10,000
• Staveley Village Association - Pavilion refurbishment and improved accessibility - £5,000
• Witherslack Parish Hall - to refurbish the hall - £10,000
• Stainton Institute - to complete the final phase of the hall - £30,000
• Skelsmergh Community Hall - Interior work - £1,781.70

Peter Thornton said: "Our village and community halls are at the heart of our community and this funding will help keep them there. This funding is part of our work to make our area the best place to live and work."

Tim Farron added: "This funding will help support community halls and help keep them as the vibrant hubs of our villages and communities. I want to pay tribute to South Lakeland District Council for this funding and everyone who put forward a bid - their work and efforts have today been rewarded."

The funding for these schemes comes from the New Homes Bonus. This funding is a grant paid by central government to local councils for increasing the number of homes and their use. Today the allocation for 2015/16 was announced by the government for local authorities throughout England. The New Homes Bonus allocation for South Lakeland will total £737,654. This includes an affordable homes premium of £23,240.

The New Homes Bonus is paid each year for 6 years. It's based on the amount of extra Council Tax revenue raised for new-build homes, conversions and long-term empty homes brought back into use. There is also an extra payment for providing affordable homes. Local councils can decide how to spend the New Homes Bonus. However, the government expects local councils to consult communities about how they will spend the money, especially communities where housing stock has increased.

South Lakeland District Council have decided to use these New Homes Bonus funds to address the needs of local communities by dividing the funds into two areas:

• 40% for Locally Important Projects
• 60% for Housing and Neighbourhood Planning