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: That the actions taken by the Community Engagement Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Baldock be endorsed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

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

(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 – 27 Minutes 50 Seconds

The Community Engagement Officer informed Members that the grant awarded to the Independent Baldock Beer Festival could be taken from the 2019/20 Carry Forward.

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

Funding:

·                Paragraph 7.3 on page 7 within the report which summarised the funding available to the Committee during 2020/21.

Impact on events:

·                Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, many events have had to be cancelled including the Baldock Festival and The Big Lunch. Other events have been postponed until September including the Baldock Cycle Challenge;

·                Owing to the uncertainty of the pandemic, it was not possible to confirm whether Autumn events would be able to take place; and

·                The Community Engagement Officer was in communication with the organisers of the Baldock Chartered Street Fair with regards to that year’s event. The The Community Engagement Officer had reminded the organisers that to maintain the charter there must be a presence in the town during the 3 day fair period.

Impact on Community Buildings:

·                The Baldock Community Centre and Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre were closed in light of the pandemic – both venues had received £10k from the NHDC Business Grant.

Support Groups in response to Coronavirus:

The Community Engagement Officer had been supporting the numerous support groups that have been set up in response to the Pandemic.

The Community Engagement Officer has also assisted with Operation Shield.

RESOLVED: That the actions taken by the Community Engagement Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Baldock be endorsed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

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

(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.