| 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 Jane Gray, Councillor Steve Hemingway, Councillor Sal Jarvis and Councillor Harry Spencer-Smith. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Alan Fleck (Grant and Data Systems Officer), Susan Hardy (Assistant Communities Officer) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services Officer). |
| ALSO PRESENT: | At the commencement of the meeting two members of the public. |
| Meeting attachment |
Agenda Front Page |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 4 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs C.P.A. Strong. |
Noted | ||
| 5 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 March 2015 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 6 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 May 2015 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 informed members that he had invited the County Councillors to either attend all meetings of this Committee or send short written reports regarding highways matters and grants applied for or awarded from their Locality Budgets. (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 There were no presentations by members of the public. |
Noted | ||
| 10 |
INFORMATION NOTE: NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY FACILITY AT HITCHIN TOWN HALL Report Photographs The Committee received an Information Note regarding the North Hertfordshire Museum and Community Facility at Hitchin Town Hall. Members were pleased to note that this project was on track to open on time. They considered that NHDC Officers and Members should, at the end of the process, reflect on the lessons learnt about partnership working with a view to producing a "best practice" document. RESOLVED: That the Information Note regarding the North Hertfordshire District Museum and Community Facility at Hitchin Town Hall be noted. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Southern Rural Committee is kept appraised of the progress of and issues relating to the development of the North Hertfordshire District Museum and Community Facility at Hitchin Town Hall. |
Agreed | ||
| 11 |
COMMUNITY UPDATE AND GRANT APPLICATIONS Report Appendix 1 - Budget Appendix 2- Work Programme Appendix 3 - Grant Application - Icklefor Parish Council Tree Works Appendix 4 - Grant Application - GACCMA Buggy Shelter Appendix 5 - Grant Application - Knebworth Parish Council Pedestrian Handrails Appendix 6 - Grant Application - Knebworth Parish Council Website Appendix 7 - Rural Grants Fund 2015 - 16 Quick Guide The Grant and Data Systems Officer introduced Susan Hardy (Assistant Communities Officer). He then presented the report of the Head of Policy and Community services entitled Community Update and Grant Applications and drew attention to the following: APPENDIX 2 - WORK SUMMARY UPDATE A revised Work Summary Update had been tabled ay the meeting. DISTRICT WIDE GRANT FUNDING The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recommended that a system be put in place to enable District Wide organisations to apply for grant funding from a central budget. It was therefore recommended that a sum be deducted from each Area Committee budget to enable this to happen in 2015/16. Members were generally supportive of this idea, but were concerned that there appeared to be no role for Members of the Area Committees in the decision making. They were agreeable to the proposition providing the Chairmen of the Area Committees were consulted about any grant applications and that this be agreed for 1 financial year only. WARD GRANT FUNDING Members were concerned at the requirement for the Area Committee to ratify grant funding agreed by Ward Members. They were concerned at the ramifications should any one of these grants not be ratified and asked that the Head of Policy and Community Services continue to review the system of Ward Budgets with a view to finding a positive way forward. BBC "GET CREATIVE "RURAL SCHOOLS, POTTERY & CERAMICS PROJECT The BBC "Get Creative" project had already started in Barley and was due to move into the Southern Rural Area. S106 CONTRIBUTIONS Members asked whether NHDC was still able to ask for S106 contributions on new developments, which could be used n the Southern Rural area. The Grant and Data System Officer advised that he would investigate and inform Members of his findings. RURAL GRANTS PROGRAMME 2015/16 The Parish Challenge Programme would be launched in June 2015, not July as stated in the report. COMMUNITIES OFFICERS Members thanked the Communities Officers for the brilliant work they undertook supporting local groups RESOLVED: (1) That the activities and schemes with which the Communities 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; (3) That, pending the outcome of the Grants Policy Review, £1,300 be deducted from the Southern Rural Committee Budget to enable sufficient budget to fund District wide organisations for the financial year 2015 only; (4) That, in respect of (3) above, Area Committee Chairmen be consulted prior to the award of any District Wide Grant; (5) That the Head of Policy and Community Services be requested to continue reviewing the system of Ward Budgets. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Southern Rural Committee is kept informed of the work of the Communities Officer and to inform Members of the financial resources and current budgetary position. |
Agreed | ||
| 12 |
WARD BUDGETS RESOLVED: That the following Ward Grant funding be allocated from the 2014/15 Budget: Ickleford Parish Council Tree Maintenance £155; Great Ashby Community Centre Management Assoc. External Buggy/Pushchair Shelter £300; Knebworth Parish Council Pedestrian Handrails in New Close £250: Knebworth Parish Council Provision of a new Website £200. REASON FOR DECISION: To allow the Southern Rural Committee to assist voluntary organisations and further the aims and priorities of the Council. |
Agreed | ||
| 13 |
WARD AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS JOHN CLEMENTS CENTRE Members extolled the virtues of the newly built John Clements Centre. The Chairman advised that he had asked the Committee and Member Services Officer to investigate holding the December Southern Rural meeting at the Centre. |
Noted | ||