Agenda and decisions

To elect a Chair and a Vice Chair for the remainder of the Civic Year

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee elected Councillor Steve Jarvis as Chair of the Baldock and District Committee for the remainder of the Civic Year 2022/23.

(2)  That the Committee elected Councillor Alistair Willoughby as Vice-Chair of the Baldock and District Committee for the remainder of the Civic Year 2022/23.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Michael Weeks.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 31 October 2022.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 31 October 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.

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 reminded Members 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.

(2)  The Chair advised that for the purposes of clarification that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting.

To receive a verbal update from Hertfordshire Constabulary on their work in the Baldock and District Area.

A verbal update was received from PS Lisa Perks and Inspector James Lant of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

RESOLVED: That the Committee allocated £1,500 to Headway Hertfordshire towards peer support group sessions as outlined in paragraphs 8.1.1-8.1.4 of this report.

REPORT OF THE POLICIES AND COMMUNITIES MANAGER

To provide the Committee with an update to ensure Members are kept informed of the work of the Community Engagement Team.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee agreed that any unspent funds from the 2022/23 financial year be allocated to the Baldock Area Committee budget for the 2023/24 period.

(2)  That the Committee endorsed the actions taken by the Community Engagement Team to promote great community capacity and well-being for Baldock.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)  To ensure Members are 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 Grants Policy as agreed by Cabinet in July 2021.

(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.

The following items were discussed in relation to Ward Matters and Outside Organisations:

·         Highways

·         RevIvel Association

·         Baldock Royal British Legion