Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

To bring to the Committee’s attention details of recent requests received for Area Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations, which conform to the Authority’s Grants Policy approved by Cabinet on 14 June 2016.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That any unspent funds from the 2018/19 financial year be allocated to community initiatives; and

(2)       That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Royston and District be endorsed.

REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in the Royston and District area.

Audio Recording – Start of Item – 32 Minutes, 35 Seconds

The Community Engagement Officer presented the report entitled Grants and Community Update. 

The Community Engagement Officer drew the Members attention to allocated funding that had been granted by the Royston and District Committee at the November 2018 Meeting to Royston Bowls Club to purchase a de-thatching machine.  Royston Bowls Club had since informed that they had been unable to raise the necessary funds to purchase the desired machine, but, had instead purchased a verticutter machine.  Whilst their new machine was not of the same specification as the de-thatching machine it was not dissimilar and assisted greatly with the required maintenance of the green. 

Royston Bowls Club had advised the Community Engagement Officer of the purchase in March and hoped that the Committee acknowledged that it was a purchase in keeping with the grant funding award.  The Community Engagement Officer was seeking confirmation from the Committee that the funding had been spent in line with the original application.

The following Members sought clarification and asked questions:

·                Councillor Carol Stanier

·                Councillor Ruth Brown

·                Councillor Gerald Morris

It was

RESOLVED:

(1)       That any unspent funds from the 2018/19 financial year be allocated to community initiatives;

(2)       The Members endorsed the purchase of a verticutter in place of a de-thatcher  by Royston Bowls Club, and that the grant funding agreed at the November 2018 meeting had been spent in line with the original grant application which had contributed to the overall project; and

(3)       That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Royston and District be endorsed.

REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in the Royston and District area.