Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

To update the Committee on the activities and actions of the Communities Officer, to advise on the current expenditure and balances of the delegated budgets and to consider applications for grant funding.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Committee endorses the actions taken by the Community Engagement Officer to Promote greater community capacity and well-being for Baldock;

(2)       That the volunteers supporting the Baldock Events Forum be thanked for their hard work in organising the events in Baldock throughout the year.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

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

(2)       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 June 2016.

Audio recording – 56 Minutes 42 seconds and 1 hour 39 minutes 31 seconds

The Community Engagement Officer presented the report entitled Grants and Community Update and drew attention to the following:

Budgets

The Committee currently had £3.470 available for grant funding.

There were no plans to remove any balances remaining in Area Committee budgets at the end of the Civic Year.

Baldock Community Fireworks

The Baldock Community Fireworks was held for the first time at St Marys School on

Saturday 9th November.

Despite atrocious weather on the night of the event, the firework display was well supported with more than 1500 spectators attending the show.

Car parking was a bit of an issue.

As well as being a fantastic community event, the firework display also generated over £3.6k profit to be shared between St Marys PTA and local charities.

Councillor Jim McNally advised that there were some lessons for next year’s event including access and egress and the siting of the PA equipment.

Baldock Christmas Fayre

The Baldock Christmas Fayre was held on Baldock High Street on Saturday 7^th December.

The event was extremely well supported by the people of Baldock and passed without incident.

Members commented that this had been a marvellous event but they had received comment that there were no craft stalls this year/

Councillor Jim McNally advised that they had tried something new this year, but there was room to incorporate a more traditional element in the High Street next year.

Future Events

Councillor Jim McNally advised that the following events would take place:

·                23 February - Baldock Beast;

·                7 June - Big Lunch;

·                15 June - Cycle Challenge;

·                5 December – Christmas Fayre.

The Baldock Community Events Forum also helped with the school fete, Fireworks Night, Balstock Festival and the Rat Run and were looking at the possibility of putting on a disco type event.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Committee endorses the actions taken by the Community Engagement Officer to Promote greater community capacity and well-being for Baldock;

(2)       That the volunteers supporting the Baldock Events Forum be thanked for their hard work in organising the events in Baldock throughout the year.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

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

(2)       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 June 2016.