Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE POLICY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

To advise the Committee on the current expenditure and balances of the Committee Grant budgets.

To bring to the Committee’s attention details of recent requests received for Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations.

RESOLVED: That the actions taken by the Community Engagement team to promote greater community capacity and well-being for the Southern Rural area be endorsed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)       To ensure the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Engagement Team.

(2)       This report is intended to inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. It draws attention to the current budgetary situation by assisting in the effective financial management of the Area Committee’s budget. This ensures that all actions are performed in line with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, the Council’s Constitution, and the guidance of the existing Grants policy as agreed by Cabinet in January 2020.

(3)       The awarding of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and the use of discretionary spending allows the Committee to further the aims of the Council Plan.

Audio Recording – 25 minutes 38 seconds.

N.B The Chair proposed amendments to the grant application recommendations and these items were dealt with between the funding update and the remainder of the Officer’s report.

The remainder of the Officer’s report begins at 33 minutes 12 seconds.

The Community Engagement Team Leader presented the report entitled Grants & Community Update along with the following appendix:

·                Appendix 1 – SR Committee Budgets 2020-21

The Community Engagement Team Leader drew Members’ attention to Section 10 of the Report including:

·                Funds from the last budget year had been spent;

·                The last grant awarded by this Committee, to Kings Walden Parish Council, had been split between the budgets for 2019/20 and 2020/21;

·                There was £7399 remaining in the budget to be spent at this meeting and in the forthcoming meeting in March.

The Community Engagement Team Leader provided updates on the work of the Community Engagement team including:

·                The Holocaust Memorial Day service was taking place on Wednesday 27 January at 11am;

·                In connection with Holocaust Memorial Day the team had launched an art competition for children aged 5 to 11 and a creative writing competition for those between 11-18 on the theme of the event, ‘Be the light in the darkness,’;

·                Details of the competition could be found on the Council’s website;

·                Nominations for the Chair’s Volunteer Awards had opened with 4 categories: the Care award, the Green award, the Young People’s award and the Dedication award;

·                The closing date for nominations was 18 December and the selection process would begin on 11January;

·                Winners would be featured in the online Civic Reception.

Councillor Terry Tyler advised Members that the Chair’s Civic Reception was moving online this year and would feature the volunteer awards, entertainments and fundraising.

It was:

RESOLVED: That the actions taken by the Community Engagement team to promote greater community capacity and well-being for the Southern Rural area be endorsed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)       To ensure the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Engagement Team.

(2)       This report is intended to inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. It draws attention to the current budgetary situation by assisting in the effective financial management of the Area Committee’s budget. This ensures that all actions are performed in line with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, the Council’s Constitution, and the guidance of the existing Grants policy as agreed by Cabinet in January 2020.

(3)       The awarding of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and the use of discretionary spending allows the Committee to further the aims of the Council Plan.