| Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City |
| PRESENT: | Councillor D.J. Barnard (Chairman), Councillor Cathryn Henry (Vice-Chairman), Councillor John Bishop, Councillor Tricia Cowley and Councillor Steve Hemingway. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Stuart Izzard (Community Development Manager) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services Officer). |
| ALSO PRESENT: | At the commencement of the meeting 7 members of the public. |
| Meeting attachment |
Agenda |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 4 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Faye Barnard, Jane Gray and Sal Jarvis. |
Noted | ||
| 5 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 March 2014 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 6 |
MINUTES Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2014 had been tabled. RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 June 2014 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 7 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS There were no notifications of other business. |
Noted | ||
| 8 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly those giving a presentation; (2) The Chairman congratulated those who had been successful at the election held on 22 May 2014 and welcomed Councillor Steve Hemingway to the Committee; (3) Members were reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable 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 a Declarable Interest which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote. |
Noted | ||
| 9 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - CODICOTE VILLAGE DAY Colin Archent, Treasurer and Jim Mills, a member, of Codicote Village Day thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the application for grant funding towards the cost of crowd control fencing. Mr Archent advised that the Codicote Village Day Committee, consisting of 12 people aimed to organise and provide annual one day event in Codicote for the benefit of local residents which would include a procession through the village and a fete. This event had been running for more than 30 years and provided opportunities for local charities, clubs and societies to promote themselves and raise funds. The main sources of income were grants and sponsorship, stall charges and the Lottery and major expenditure was for insurance, road closures, entertainment ant catering costs. The application was for grant funding towards the cost of purchasing 50 pedestrian barriers to surround the arena, which would be much safer than the currently used rope barrier and would be made available to other local organisations. Members asked several questions including whether the Parish Council and County Councillor supported the event Mr Archent advised the Committee that the Parish Council had given a grant of £750 to the event and that they would contact the County Councillor to ask for support. The Chairman thanked Mr Archent and Mr Mills for their presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 10 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - KNEBWORTH DAY CENTRE Angela Skinner and Janet Little, volunteers at the Knebworth Day Centre thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the application for grant funding. Ms Skinner informed Members that the Knebworth Day Centre was run on a Monday from 10am to 3pm at Deanscroft and had been in existence for about 25 years. The Day Centre provided a happy day out for socially isolated and frail people of Knebworth and currently had 15 members and a waiting list. A typical day involved drivers bringing residents to the Day Centre, morning tea a biscuits and a chat, a 2 course lunch of locally sourced food, entertainment, games and quizzes, afternoon tea and cake after which the drivers take the residents home. Each person paid £5 per session, which covered the basic costs, however the volunteers needed first aid, fire marshall and food hygiene training. Members asked several questions including whether they had considered using Community Meals to provide the food, what was the age range of residents and whether the County Councillor or the Knebworth Village Trust had been approached for support. Ms Skinner informed the Committee that residents relied on Community Meals throughout the week and the Day Centre looked to provide something different, that the residents who attended were mainly in their 80s with 3 being under 85 and 6 being over 95 and that she would contact both the County Councillor and Knebworth Village Trust for support. The Chairman thanked Ms Skinner and Ms Little for their presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 11 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - WYMONDLEY PARISH COUNCIL Gil Seller, Chairman of Wymondley Parish Council and Alex Foreman, Secretary/Manager of Wymondley Meaders, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the application for grant funding. Mr Seller informed Members that Little Wymondley did not have a village hall and the pavilion burnt down several years ago. Despite fundraising efforts they had not raised sufficient money to build a pavilion and a village hall, therefore the Parish Council would like to rebuild the pavilion on the existing site, which would encourage the revival of the cricket team and support the two existing local football teams. The rebuild would be funded by insurance monies and an application had been made for S106 funding and would be a brick built building which would include toilet facilities and a small kitchen. Members asked whether they had approached other organisations such as Sport England, London Luton Airport and the County Councillor for support. Mr Seller advised that they had contacted Sport England, but there were too many requirements to be met and that they would contact London Luton Airport and the County Councillor for support. The Chairman thanked Mr Seller and Mr foreman for their presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 12 |
GRANT APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNITY UPDATE Report Appendix 1 - Budgets Appendix 2 - Work Programme Appendix 3 - Grant Application - Codicote Village Day Appendix 4 - Grant Application - Knebworth Day Centre Appendix 5 - Grant Application - North Herts Samaritans Appendix 6 - Ward Grant Application - Knebworth Parish Council Appendix 7 - Ward Grant Application - Strawberry Fields Children's Centre Appendix 8 - Ward Grant Application - Knebworth Town Twinning Association Appendix 9 - Ward Grant Application - Wymondley Parish Council (Village Day) Appendix 10 - Grant Application - Wymondley Parish Council (Sports Pavilion) The Community Development Manager presented the report of the Head of Policy and Community Services entitled Grant Application and Community Update and drew attention to the amounts available prior to any award of grant funding at this meeting as follows: Development Budget £24,040 Memorandums of Understanding Budget £ 4,990 Youth & Sport Initiatives Budget £ 3,717 Community Initiatives Budget £ 3,716 Highways Projects Budget £ 3,500 Ward Member Budgets £ 6,550 RESOLVED: (1) That the activities and schemes with which the Community Development Officer has been involved with, as set out in the report, be noted; (2) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards within the Area Committee Development Budget spreadsheet, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Southern Rural Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer and to inform Members of the financial resources and current budgetary position. |
Agreed | ||
| 13 |
GRANT APPLICATION - CODICOTE VILLAGE DAY The Community Development Manager advised that the Village Day had been last funded by this Committee four years ago and reminded Members that the Parish Council supported this event. It was proposed and seconded that grant funding of £1,000 be awarded to Codicote Village Day and that the Community Development Manager liaise with the Village Day Committee and the Parish Council regarding the most efficient method of purchasing the fencing. RESOLVED: (1) That grant funding of £1,000 be allocated to Codicote Village Day from the Development Budget as a contribution towards the provision of event arena boundary fencing and marquees; (2) That the Community Development Manager be requested to liaise with the Codicote Village Day Committee and the Parish Council regarding the most efficient method of purchasing the fencing. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 14 |
GRANT APPLICATION - KNEBWORTH DAY CENTRE The Community Development Manager informed Members that he was arranging to meet with Knebworth Day Centre to discuss external funding opportunities and ways to become sustainable. He advised that Councillors Bardett and Gray supported this application. It was proposed and seconded that grant funding of £1,000 be awarded to Knebworth Day Centre. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £1,000 be allocated to Knebworth Day Centre from the Development Budget as a contribution towards the provision of First Aid training for 2 volunteers and Food Hygiene training for 2 volunteers. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 15 |
GRANT APPLICATION - NORTH HERTS SAMARITANS The Community Development Manager advised that North Herts Samaritans were based in Hitchin, but served the whole of North Herts. They were seeking grant funding of £1250 (£250 from each Area Committee) towards the cost of installing Closed Circuit Television to monitor face to face interview within their HQ. It was proposed and seconded that grant funding of £250 be awarded to North Herts Samaritans. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £250 be allocated to North Herts Samaritan from the Development Budget as a contribution towards the cost of installation of Closed Circuit Television at their HQ. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 16 |
WARD GRANT APPLICATION - STRAWBERRY FIELDS CHILDREN'S CENTRE The Community Development Manager advised that this was a Ward Member grant by Councillor Sal Jarvis. RESOLVED: That, the Ward Member grant award of £550 to Strawberry Fields Children's Centre by Councillor Sal Jarvis be approved and noted. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 17 |
WARD GRANT APPLICATION - KNEBWORTH PARISH COUNCIL Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Steve Hemmingway stated a Declarable Interest as he was a members of Knebworth Parish Council. He stated that he would not vote on this application. The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Committee would be inquorate for the duration of the item. The Community Development Manager advised that this was a Ward Member grant by Councillor Alan Bardett and that it would be referred back to the next meeting of this Committee. IT WAS SUGGESTED: That the grant application made by Knebworth Parish Council for support funding towards I T equipment for the Parish Office from the Ward Members Budget be referred back to the next meeting of this Committee due to be held on 25 September 2014. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Noted | ||
| 18 |
WARD GRANT APPLICATION - KNEBWORTH TOWN TWINNING ASSOCIATION Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Steve Hemmingway stated a Declarable Interest as he was a member of Knebworth Town Twinning Association. He stated that he would not vote on this application. The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Committee would be inquorate for the duration of the item. The Community Development Manager advised that this was a Ward Member grant by Councillor Alan Bardett and that it would be referred back to the next meeting of this Committee. IT WAS SUGGESTED: That the grant application made by Knebworth Town Twinning Association for support funding towards the costs of liability insurance premiums Ward Members Budget be referred back to the next meeting of this Committee due to be held on 25 September 2014. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Noted | ||
| 19 |
WARD GRANT APPLICATION - WYMONDLEY PARISH COUNCIL (VILLAGE DAY) The Community Development Manager advised that this was a Ward Member grant by Councillor Cathryn Henry RESOLVED: That, the Ward Member grant award of £150 to Wymondley Village Day Event by Councillor Cathryn Henry be noted. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 20 |
GRANT APPLICATION - WYMONDLEY PARISH COUNCIL (SPORTS PAVILION) Members were keen to support organisations, who hadn't previously had support for this reason, to provide sports facilities. It was proposed and seconded that grant funding be awarded to Wymondley Parish Council from the following budgets: £3,000 from the Development Budget £1,000 from the Former Memorandums of Understanding Budget £1,000 from the Youth and Sport Budget. RESOLVED: (1) That grant funding of £3,000 be allocated to Wymondley Parish Council from the Development Budget as a contribution towards the provision of a new sports pavilion at Tower Recreation Ground; (2) That grant funding of £1,000 be allocated to Wymondley Parish Council from the Former Memorandums of Understanding Budget as a contribution towards the provision of a new sports pavilion at Tower Recreation Ground; (3) That grant funding of £1,000 be allocated to Wymondley Parish Council from the Youth and Sport Budget as a contribution towards the provision of a new sports pavilion at Tower Recreation Ground. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 21 |
WARD AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS Councillor Barnard advised that he had attended the AGM of the Chilterns Conservation Board and that he hoped to give a fuller report in the future. |
Noted | ||