Meeting documents
Southern Rural Committee
Thursday, 22nd March, 2012 7.30 pm
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| Date: | Thursday, 19th January, 2012 | Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City |
| PRESENT: | Councillor D.J. Barnard (Chairman), Councillor John Bishop, Councillor Tom Brindley, Councillor Tricia Cowley, Councillor Cathryn Henry and Councillor Mrs C.P.A. Strong. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Andrew Cavanagh (Head of Finance, Performance and Asset Management), Margaret Bracey (Community Development Officer) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services officer). |
| ALSO PRESENT: | At the commencement of the meeting one member of the public. |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 48 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Bardett and Lee Downie, Jane Gray and David Miller. |
Noted | ||
| 49 |
MINUTES Data/Southern Rural Committee/201203221930/Agenda/Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 November 2011 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 50 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS No other business was discussed. |
Noted | ||
| 51 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting; (2) The Chairman reminded the Members that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda should be declared as either a prejudicial or personal 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 prejudicial interest should leave the room and not seek to influence the decision during that particular item. |
Noted | ||
| 52 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There were no presentations from members of the public. |
Noted | ||
| 53 |
CORPORATE BUSINESS PROCESS 2012/13 (BUDGET SETTING) Report Appendix A - Draft Budget Report (Cabinet 13 December 2011) Appendix 1 - General Fund Estimates Appendix 2 - Efficiency proposals Appendix 3 - Investment Proposals Appendix 4 - Capital Investment Proposals Appendix 5 - Notes of Member Workshops (November 2011) Appendix 6 - Council Tax Collection Fund Projection The Head of Finance, Performance and Asset Management presented the report entitled Corporate Business Process 2012/13 (Budget Setting) which detailed the Efficiency, Revenue Investment and Capital Investment proposals. He advised that the views of each Area Committee would be considered by Cabinet on 24 January 2012. Members debated the report and were pleased to see there were no proposed reductions to Area Committee budgets. They asked for further clarification regarding the purpose of the S106 monitoring reserve and were concerned about the estimated cost of the replacement air conditioning unit for Archers Health and Fitness Centre in Hitchin. The Head of Finance, Performance and Asset Management advised Members that the Section 106 monitoring reserve was held to fund the administration of contributions. The Council monitors the funds received and worked to identify projects where this money could be spent. He advised that he would obtain more detail regarding the costs of the replacement air conditioning unit. RESOLVED: That the Head of Finance and Asset Management be requested to advise Cabinet of the following comments of the Southern Rural Committee; (i) The Committee were pleased to note that there were no proposed reductions to Area Committee Budgets; (ii) That the purpose of the Section 106 Monitoring Reserve be clarified; (iii) The Committee were concerned at the cost of the replacement air conditioning unit for Archers Health and Fitness Centre and asked that this be investigated. REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Southern Rural Committee to comment on the Corporate Business Process (Budget Setting) prior to consideration by Cabinet on 24 January 2012. |
Agreed | Head of Finance/Performance and Asset Management, Accountancy Manager |
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| 54 |
CHAMPION NEWS AND FINANCE REPORT Report Appendix 1 - Budgets Appendix 2 - Highways Work Programme Appendix 3 - Area Committe Work programme Appendix 4 - RGF Application Summary Appendix 5 - Grant Application - Cassel Memorial Hall Appendix 6 - Grant Application - Codicote Local History Society Appendix 7 - % Ward Figures The Community Development Officer presented the report entitled Champion News and Finance Report and drew attention to the following: SUPPORT TO PARISH COUNCILS/RURAL BASED GROUPS AND INITIATIVES The Community Development Officer informed Members that the Community Development Officers had been working with the young people of St Ippolyts, who have expressed a wish to have a skate board park and that a site visit would take place on 13 February 2012 to assess the possibilities. Members asked about the likely construction of the proposed skate board park The Community Development Officer advised that the first step in the process would be to identify a possible site after which costings and consultation would be undertaken. OUGHTON CHILDRENS CENTRE The Community Development Officer informed Members that she was investigating whether the bus was still operating and, if it was, it was likely that funding would be sought. A Member suggested another source of funding for this scheme and asked that the Community Development Officer inform the Children's Centre of this. MATCH FUNDING OFFER FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR RICHARD THAKE'S HIGHWAYS DISCRETIONARY FUND 2012/13 Members acknowledged that there were three County Councillors whose area included Southern Rural and that the County boundaries did not match Southern Rural boundaries. They welcomed Councillor Thake's offer however were concerned that they did not, as yet, know the process that would be used in future to distribute funds. The Chairman agreed to meet with the Portfolio Holder to discuss future processes. BUDGET SHEETS The Community Development Officer advised that since publication of the report a further 10 Ward Member grants had been allocated and reminded Members that available grant funding should be allocated by 22 March 2012. Members asked for clarification regarding what would happen to any funds which were unallocated at the end of the financial year. JMP HIGHWAYS SRAC WORK PROGRAMME Members were concerned that the comments made regarding highways projects at Appendix 2 appeared to need updating and asked that an up to date version of the Work Programme be presented to the meeting of this Committee due to be held on 22 March 2012. RING FENCING OF UNALLOCATED FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS CELEBRATING THE OLYMPICS AND THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE The Community Development Officer drew attention to Appendix 7 of the report, which had been tabled, that detailed possible percentage splits if funding were pre allocated to Olympic and Jubilee events. Members debated whether or not to pre allocate funds to these events and considered whether or not it was appropriate to funds this type of event when efficiencies were being made in other areas. They considered that community groups should be fundraising for these events however any application for funding for celebration events would be considered on its merits. MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN RURAL COMMITTEE - 22 MARCH 2012 - GREAT ASHBY COMMUNITY CENTRE Members were reminded that the next meeting of this Committee would be held at Great Ashby Community Centre on 22 March 2012. There would be an Open Forum for members of the public to participate from 6.45 to 7.30 followed by the formal meetings of the Committee. Members requested that the Community Development Officer distribute leaflets in the local area informing people about the Open Forum and the formal meeting. RESOLVED: (1) That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well being for rural communities be endorsed; (2) That the Committee's budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Ward Development Budgets and the allocated Visioning Budgets be noted; (3) That the Community Development Officer be requested to inform Oughton Children's Centre of the alternative sources of funding available; (4) That the Chairman of the Southern Rural Committee be requested to meet with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Transport and Economic Development to discuss the future arrangements regarding Highways funding; (5) That the Community Development Officer be requested to circulate a memo to all Members of the Committee detailing the process should funds be unallocated by the end of the financial year; (6) That the Community Development Officer be requested to present an up to date version of the Highways Work Programme to the meeting of this Committee due to be held on 22 March 2012. (7) That the Community Development Officer be requested to devise leaflets to advertise the Open Forum and formal meeting due to be held at Great Ashby Community Centre on 22 March 2012; (8) That the Community Development Officer be requested to invite County Councillor Tony Hunter to attend the Open Forum and Committee meeting due to be held on 22 March 2012. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer and to inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. |
Agreed | Community Development Officer - MB, Community Development Manager |
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| 55 |
GRANT APPLICATION - CASSELL MEMORIAL HALL Members were reminded that at the meeting of this Committee held on 24 November it had been agreed that: (1) That a 50 percent matched funded grant of up £1,750 be awarded, in principal, from the 2011/12 discretionary budget to Lilley Village Hall as support towards the costs of replacing the boiler; (2) That £500 of the grant awarded in (1) above be released under the fasttrack process. A grant application had been presented at Appendix 5 of the report, which asked Members to confirm this award. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £1,630 (including the fasttrack grant of £500 previously awarded) be awarded to Cassell Memorial Hall from the 2011 - 2012 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of providing a replacement boiler be confirmed. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
Agreed | Community Development Manager, Community Development Officer - MB |
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| 56 |
GRANT APPLICATION - CODICOTE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Members were advised that the History Society aimed to restore a building initially to use as storage and that this was a thriving Society who had a good history of raising money. They noted that the Parish Council had allocated funding to the project and that Community Development Offers would be assisting the Society in applying for a small lottery grant. To undertake further works. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £1,000 awarded to Codicote History Society from the 2011 - 2012 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of address heat retention and security issues at the building. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
Agreed | Community Development Officer - MB, Community Development Manager |
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| Published on Monday, 13th February, 2012 |
| 8.35 p.m. |