BUDE BEAM (Business Enterprise Action Mentoring) is seeking support from Bude-Stratton Town Council for the purchase of new premises.

Bude BEAM, a coastal community team striving to maximise social, economic and environmental benefits for the Bude and Stratton area via community partnership, is aiming to purchase the Tripos building — a two-storey building with a three-storey extension, which is located at the entrance of the Bude Stratton Business Park.

Members of the main committee and sub-committee attended Bude-Stratton Town Council’s full council meeting on Thursday, February 2, highlighting the benefits that the Tripos building could have on the project and the community.

Cllr Paul Tilzey introduced Annie Winsland, project lead, to the meeting, who gave a briefing on what BEAM is aiming to do.

Annie is responsible for seizing the opportunity for funding for Bude BEAM. She explained that the department for communities and local government had announced in 2015 that grants had been made available to set up Coastal Community Teams, and that a grant of £10,000 had been made available to Bude to set up a committee and steering group, who now meet on a regular basis.

These Coastal Community Teams have a purpose to support the development of activities for the community, to help solve economic, environmental and social issues.

She explained that the main aims for Bude BEAM are to run services for young people, and teach them how to run services for themselves; attract custom; and to provide jobs or help people find or apply for employment.

The Bude team was launched in at the end of 2015, during a meeting in Stratton, where North Cornwall Conservative MP, Scott Mann, was also present. Annie said: “There was a meeting on October 2, 2015, where it was discussed how to use the £10,000 to speak to people and start progressing, and find out what they’d like to see happen in Bude.

“There’s a large amount of people on a significantly low amount of money, so there’s a lot of people in the area that are really struggling. The number of people using the food bank services has gone up, and applications for free school meals has gone up too.”

BEAM are currently holding sessions on Fridays, allowing members of the community to come along and build a CV, apply for jobs, and get custom for their businesses. The team is now applying for funding for £190,000 for a three-year programme, which will help people in Bude get the support and relevant training they need.

The project has representatives from a range of organisations, including Cllr Tilzey from Bude-Stratton Town Council, the Bude Chamber of Commerce, BudeWorks, as well as schools and other community groups.

However, the meeting heard that in order for the team to continue and progress with this, they will need a premises. The Tripos building is at the top of that list, due to space and potential.

Annie then handed over to John Gimson, who is a member of Bude Chamber of Commerce and has been heavily involved in the project.

He told the council: “I don’t think any of you would be here if you weren’t committed to the future of Bude.”

John explained that he and his family moved to Bude in 2000, and that his wife is sadly in a care home due to vascular dementia. Therefore, he has been putting a lot of his time, efforts and money into this progressing project.

With difficulties trying to find the funds to invest in the Tripos building, John explained that he has been using some of his own money to invest in the project, which is estimated to cost approximately £650,000 without VAT.

He said: “We’ve got to move towards exploiting this opportunity, so we don’t lose an opportunity to bring prosperity to Bude. I think this is a good base to springboard the BEAM plant.”

Another active member of the team, Will, explained to the council that it would be possible for the project to initially pay £300,000, and then defer the £350,000 payment for the next two and a half years. Once refurbished and kitted out, it is expected that the building would be worth around £7 and a half million to £10-million.

Annie added that they would find out in April if they are eligible for funding and if money will be made available to them. This has involved a long two-stage application process, since April last year.

She said: “The Coastal Community Fund haven’t offered a lot of money to Bude, so they are keen to support us.”

John added: “All of this is work in progress, but we do truly believe this is well on the way to becoming a community project.”

The subject was then put to the town councillors, who had some concerns about the council’s position if they were to agree to be involved and offer council money.

Keith Cornwell, the town council’s responsible finance officer, reminded the meeting that it was not certain that the project would be granted with no VAT if purchasing the site, and that the suggested £650,000 could soon turn into £710,000.

Cllr Tilzey said: “I agree there’s big numbers involved, but it’s a big scheme and it’s an ambitious scheme. Bude needs something; Bude needs to move forward.”

Mr Cornwell added that the council’s legal entity would need to be looked into, and that the council could end up buying or owning half of the building, potentially, and that they may have to raise or borrow the money, and how it would be funded.

Cllr Julia Bryson said: “It is a big thing, but wouldn’t it be great if it happened?”

Cllr Peter La Broy added: “It is an ambitious project, and I don’t think things like this can happen without brave ideas and brave people, for which I take my hat off to you.

“The Tripos building is an award winning building. It’s not something the council can ignore.”

However, Cllr Bob Willingham said: “The last thing we want to do is make the council bankrupt, by extending the money that we’ll get nothing back from.”

Cllr Frank Partidge supported this. He said: “The thing that concerns me is that I cannot support anything to light. All we’ve had is a 15-minute presentation. If they are asking for something that, in principle, we can walk away from, I would have no concerns, but I’m not prepared to vote on it tonight — no way, to be honest.”

Cllr Tilzey agreed that the council may be ‘walking blind’ with little information about the project and financial status, but that councillors would need to see the building to see the potential.

Cllr Bryson suggested a proposal, and said: “The council, in principle, agrees and supports this project, subject to further information and legal requirements that the council can act within.”

She added: “It’s information we’re lacking here. I’d love to keep the whole thing going, but we must be mindful that these are community funds that we’re dealing with.”

However, Cllr Alan Biggs said: “I can’t vote for something when I don’t know what it’s about.”

Agreeing, Cllr Partridge suggested: “I propose to defer this item to a closed session of the council within the next four weeks.”

Town clerk, Donna James, agreed that the item could be deferred until the next full council meeting on Thursday, March 2, within a closed session.

Councillors voted in favour of the proposal to defer.

For more information about the Bude BEAM project, and how to get involved, visit budebeam.co.uk.