| Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Committee Room, Royston Town Hall, Melbourn Street, Royston |
| PRESENT: | Councillor Fiona Hill (Chairman), Councillor Bill Davidson (Vice-Chairman), Councillor Jean Green, Councillor A.F. Hunter, Councillor R.E. Inwood and Councillor Gerald Morris. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Alan Fleck (Community Development Officer) Susanne Gow (Committee and Member Services Officer) |
| ALSO PRESENT: | 3 members of Royston and District Twinning Association 1 member of the Press 1 member of the public. |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 49 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were tendered by Cllr Peter Burt. |
Noted | ||
| 50 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 November 2012 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 51 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS There was no additional item of urgent business raised for discussion at this Committee Meeting. |
Noted | ||
| 52 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Meeting, including the Members of the Committee, NHDC officers, members of the public including three speakers and a member of the Press; (2) Members were reminded that declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda should be declared as either of Disclosable Pecuniary interest, Other Pecuniary interest or Non-Pecuniary interest, and are required to notify the Chairman of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring either an Other Pecuniary interest, or a Non-Pecuniary interest which requires they leave the room under paragraph 16.3 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote. |
Noted | ||
| 53 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 1) Paul Rydon of the Royston and District Twinning Association gave the background of the Association up to the present day, with Royston currently linked with the twin towns of Grossalmerode (Germany), La Loupe (France) and Villanueva de la Cañada (Spain). He explained the activities used to fund the Association, the youth initiative and forthcoming events, ending with reasons for town twinning in the 21st century. Members were informed that the next RDTA trip to Villanueva de la Cañada would be in May 2013, in time for the feast of San Isidro. He was the patron saint of farmers and his feast day is on 15 May which is a public holiday, bull fights being held on this day. Links between schools with pupils of all ages were promoted, as were links between youth sports teams. Meridian School and Las Encimas are linked, but the teachers declare that activities supporting this link are not easy to arrange. Lastly, the Committee were informed that two marriages had resulted from Royston and District Twinning! The team from RDTA answered questions from the Committee, after which the Chairman thanked Paul Rydon, Jane Dottridge and Keith Ginsberg for their Powerpoint presentation on the Royston and District Twinning Association. She assured them of the Royston and District Committee's support and requested that the dialogue continues between the Committee and Royston and District Twinning Association. 2) The Chairman welcomed Tony Gearing to the Royston and District Committee Meeting and asked if he would give the Committee an update on the Young People of the Year (YOPEY) organisation. Mr Gearing explained that YOPEY had been started in Royston in 2005 and had grown each year. He gave the background and the organisation's aims and objectives, then answered questions put to him by Members of the Royston and District Committee. He revealed that young candidates were found through schools and clubs, who were glad to notify the organisation of those young people who do good turns and were growing up to be good citizens. It was hoped that they would communicate their good traits to other young people. The three most important points to look for when finding candidates for YOPEY were: a. Family b. Job c. "Giving" to the community The Chairman thanked Mr Gearing for his informative address and told him that the grant application submitted by YOPEY would be discussed later on the Agenda of the meeting. |
Noted | ||
| 54 |
HIGHWAYS ISSUES Basic Highways issues The Chairman introduced this item and asked Members to raise any relevant issues to be dealt with. - The cobbles between Upper King Street and High Street, George Lane (decision on whether to leave cobbles as they are or remove/change them) - the Chairman advised that the feasibility study has been carried out. Royston Town Council has been consulted on the issue and have resolved to review in a year's time. This was the opportunity for District Members to give any further views. After some debate, it was agreed that the situation would continue to be monitored and reviewed during the year. The Chairman stated that Upper King Street has been included in the Locality Budget. When consultations were held, it was surprising to find that older residents of Royston were generally in favour of leaving the cobbles where they were (they considered they were part of the "character" of Royston); - Highways Locality Budget - possible Phase 1 Schemes for inclusion in the Highways Locality Budget. This would cover work on Haydock Road, Parklands, Shaftesbury Way and Stamford Avenue. Other Members also recommended that Pedlars' Lane in Therfield should be considered this spring and the Chairman reminded the Committee that Icknield Walk had already been repaired under the Winter Recovery Programme; - Update on the 90/91 bus route - cutting the part of the route that runs between Ashwell and Royston would affect a considerable number of vulnerable people. Herts County Council had been lobbied and two routes per day will remain, to be reviewed in one year's time. Travellers have been urged to keep using the routes to show that they are needed. The majority of bus passengers are concessionary users. |
Noted | ||
| 55 |
CHAMPION NEWS Main Report Budget report Grant application, Appendix B Grant application, Appendix C Grant application, Appendix D Grant application, Appendix E Grant application, Appendix F Grant application, Appendix F-2 Grant application, Appendix G Grant application, Appendix J Grant application, Appendix K MoU application, Appendix L The Community Development Officer (CDO) presented the report of the Head of Policy and Community Services. He updated the Committee on, and gave a brief summary of, the activities with which he had been involved since the last meeting on 28 November 2012. The Committee were informed that Cruse Bereavement Care had written to thank the Royston and District Committee for the recent grant award they had made to the organisation. Bus Route No. 26 and other bus routes The CDO informed the Committee that Stagecoach had replied to his letter. The Chairman requested that the Committee writes back, to again request the adjustment of the route through Tannery Drift back through Kneesworth Street. Members' Surgery The CDO went through the items resulting from the two Members' Surgeries dated 1 December 2012 and 2 February 2013 and gave a verbal update. Royston BMX Track The report on this item was updated as Royston BMX Club are to receive money from both Section 106 and Sport England, starting in April 2013. Priory Memorial Gardens MUGA Section 106 monies are available for this and work would be starting shortly. Royston Underpass The CDO explained that panels of wood or galvanised steel could be fitted onto the walls in the underpass and these would be painted off-site by graffiti artists and other young artists. Being removable, they could be changed and repainted whenever necessary. This has engendered a positive response from Herts County Council. The CDO then took Members through the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry-forwards from the Development Budget and distributed lists of monies received in Royston. The Committee considered the grant application from NHDC Internal Budgetary Support for the sum of £1,500 for the "Free After Three-Thirty" parking subsidy; The Committee considered the grant application from the Royston Heath Archery Club for the sum of £1,000 for the purchase of additional bows and gazebos; Councillor Inwood declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest as he is a Scout Leader with this unit. He advised that he would not leave the room as no further information had been provided by the client. The Committee considered the grant application from 10th Royston Scouts for £1,200 to assist with DDA compliant access to their Scout hut and while expressing their support for this application, made the decision to defer it again until a future Committee Meeting, when there might be more information available; Cllrs Davidson and Green both declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest and advised that they would stay in the room and not vote. The Committee considered the grant application from the Royston Volunteer Centre for £1,200 to replace their out-of-date PC; The Committee considered the grant application from Young People of the Year for £300 to assist with financial support; Cllr Inwood declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest as he is a helper at this event. The Committee considered the grant application from Royston's Open Secrets for £500 to support the 2013 event; The Committee considered a grant application of £1,000 from Friends of Meridian School for financial support for a new minibus, but deferred it to a future Meeting pending further information; Cllr Hill declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest as she is a member of this branch of Home-Start, and Cllr Davidson also declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest, as this charity is Cllr Lindsay Davidson's Charity of the Year as Mayor of Royston. The Committee considered a grant application of £304 from Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, to support the Home-Start Healthy Eating Package; The Committee considered and agreed in principle a grant application of £2,300 to Budgetary Support, Royston and District Committee for the Royston Underpass mural but it was deferred and identified as a project for next year; Cllr Inwood declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in this MoU as he is a helper at The House. The Committee considered allocating the sum of £1,500 as a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to the House Drop-In Centre, as already discussed at a previous meeting but not formally endorsed or minuted; The Committee considered allocating remaining funds to graffiti projects, to The Hang Out Club at Coombes Community Centre and to various Highways projects. The CDO then handed out to Members Potential Community Projects and took them through the list. RESOLVED: (1) That the Committee thanks the Community Development Officer (CDO) and endorses the actions he has taken to promote greater community capacity and well-being; (2) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry-forwards from the Development Budgets be noted; (3) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £1,500 to NHDC Internal Budgetary Support for the "Free after Three Thirty" parking subsidy; (4) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £1,000 to the Royston Heath Archery Club for purchase of additional bows and gazebos; (5) That the Committee supports but defers a grant award of £1,500 to 10th Royston Scouts to assist with DDA compliant access to their Scout hut pending receipt of further information; (6) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £1,200 to the Royston Volunteer Centre to replace their out-of-date PC; (7) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £300 to YOPEY for financial support; (8) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £500 to Royston's Open Secrets to support the 2013 event; (9) That the Committee defers a grant award to the Friends of Meridian School pending receipt of further information; (10) That the Committee agrees to make a grant award of £304 to Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire to support the Home-Start Healthy Eating Package; (11) That the Committee agrees to award in principle and defer the sum of £2,300 to Budgetary Support, Royston & District Committee for the Royston underpass mural; (12) That the Committee agrees to allocate £1,500 as a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding to "The House Drop-In Centre"; (13) That the Committee agrees to allocate remaining funds to graffiti projects, to the Hang Out Club at the Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road and to Highways projects. REASON FOR DECISION: (1) To ensure that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer; (2) To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. The report draws attention to the current budgetary situation, assists in the effective financial management of the Royston and District Committee's budget and ensures actions are performed within the Authority's Financial Regulations and the guidance in the Grants procedure; (3) The awarding of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and the use of discretionary spending allows the Committee to further the aims and strategic priorities of the Council; (4) The allocation of funds will improve the services provided by local organisations and groups that are available and accessed by members of the community. |
Agreed | ||
| 56 |
OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS REPORTS Coombes Community Centre Cllr Bill Davidson informed Members that the lease had been discussed by the Coombes Community Centre Committee. Royston Day Centre Cllr Bill Davidson reported that the Day Centre had held several meetings and was operating well. Royston Town Twinning Association The Chairman informed the Committee that the signs showing Royston's twin towns were to be fully updated, to include Villanueva de la Cañada. They were to be funded through the Highways Locality Budget. North Herts Homes Development of the cinema site should be starting soon. Royston Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce was operating satisfactorily. Royston Volunteer Centre The organisation has moved premises and is progressing well. Costs are being kept to a minimum and volunteers are handling the administration of the organisation. Thanks were conveyed to all Members of the Committee who supported the Centre during the move. The Chairman thanked the Community Development Officer for presenting the report and for his hard work for the people of Royston. She thanked the Committee and the Committee Clerk for their constant support throughout the Civic Year 2012/2013. She also thanked the Press and members of Royston Town Council for their attendance at the Royston and District Committee Meetings throughout the year. |
Noted | ||