Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Area Committee will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for the remainder of the civic year.

The Committee was unable to elect a Chair for the remainder of the 2022/23 Civic year and instead appointed a Chair on a temporary basis for the purposes of the meeting.

Councillor Michael Weeks proposed and Councillor Juan Cowell seconded and, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Michael Muir be appointed Chair for this meeting of the Baldock Area Committee.

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer called for nominations for Chair of the Baldock Committee for the Civic Year 2022/23.

Councillor Tom Tyson nominated Councillor Steve Jarvis. Councillor Alistair Willoughby seconded.

Councillor Michael Weeks nominated Councillor Michael Muir. Councillor Juan Cowell seconded.

On the vote neither nominated candidate was successful

The Committee was unable to elect a Chair for the remainder of the 2022/23 Civic year and instead appointed a Chair on a temporary basis for the purposes of the meeting.

Councillor Michael Weeks proposed and Councillor Juan Cowell seconded and, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED: That Councillor Michael Muir be appointed Chair for this meeting of the Baldock Area Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Apologies received from Councillors for this meeting.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 14 March and 26 May 2022

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 14 March and 26 May 2021 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Councillor Juan Cowell proposed and Councillor Steve Jarvis seconded and, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 14 March and 26 May 2022 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

There was no other business notified.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1) The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public viewing proceedings.

(2) The Chair reminded Members to make Declarations of Interest before an item, the full reminder about this was set out under Chair’s Announcements on the agenda.

(3) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, this meeting would be audio recorded and available to listen on Mod.Gov

(1)       The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting;

(2)       The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;

(3)       Members were reminded to make declarations of interest before an item, the longer reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under Chair’s Announcements on the agenda.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

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

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(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.

The Community Engagement Officer presented the report entitled ‘Grants and Community Update’ and advised:

·         Paragraph 7.3 of the report shows the amount of funding available including a carry forward from the previous year;

·         Members are permitted to allocate from their wards or combine the budget and approve and advise grants as they come through;

·         Paragraph 8.1 details the future grants, including applications from the Baldock Fire Support Group, Haven and the Young at Heart Group;

·         8.2 included some mistakes which have now been rectified – use of Royston rather than Baldock;

·         8.2.2 – Baldock Beast Marathon; the numbers were down in previous years as it was held in October rather than February due to COVID restrictions;

·         8.2.3 – Update on the Eco Fest on the 7^th May. This year was a bigger event than last years;

·         8.2.4 – Baldock Festival is back in town over three weeks, which finishes with the Baldock Street Fair;

·         8.2.5 details the Baldock Big Lunch, which was the biggest so far; 450 people sitting down for lunch. Marquees were brought in due to the bad weather.

·         8.2.6 Baldock CEO has identified £26k from S106 Play Space to assist Ashwell Parish Council in finding funding for new play equipment for the recreation ground;

·         8.2.9 highlights next year’s Tractors on Christmas Lights Tour; organisers hoping to raise £60,000. Will be more activities earlier in the day to attract more public.

Councillor Michael Weeks commented that everyone that had attended the Baldock Big Lunch had enjoyed themselves despite the bad weather.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Michael Weeks

·         Councillor Michael Muir

·         Councillor Alistair Willoughby

In response to questions from Members the Community Engagement Officer advised:

·         That he is going to be assisting with the Baldock Cycle Challenge on the Saturday and Sunday;

·         Deadlines for grant applications across the year will be sent out to Members

·         Groups can now apply at the committee’s discretion rather than not being able to apply for another 2 years.

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

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(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.

To receive any verbal reports from Members regarding Ward matters and Outside Organisations.

Cllr Michael Weeks gave an update concerning Tesco’s planning application to erect a marquee in 2021.

Members had no other reports or ward matters to discuss with the Committee.

Councillor Michael Muir informed the Committee that he has spent all of his Highways Budget Allocation for 22/23, but needs to decide how to spend the 23/24 budget, so if any Councillors are aware of any roads that need to be serviced let him know.

Councillor Michael Weeks informed the committee that after submitting a planning application for a marquee in 2021. Tesco erected the marquee before they had been given permission. Councillor Michael Weeks objected to Tesco’s application as he felt they were being greedy to the detriment of sites like Tapps and other garden centres. The marquee has not gone up this year.

The Chair to lead a discussion regarding possible agenda items for future meetings.

The Chair led a discussion for possible agenda items for future meetings.

The Chair led a discussion for possible agenda items for future meetings.

Councillor Alistair Willoughby asked for a discussion on Councillor Surgeries to be on the agenda for the next meeting. Councillor Willoughby felt that surgeries had been ad hoc at the moment, and he would like to see more structured surgeries taking place.