Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 112 KBVenue: Foundation House, Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City
Contact: Hilary Dineen (01462) 474353 Email: hilary.dineen@north-herts.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julian Cunningham, Gary Grindal and Lynda Needham. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julian Cunningham, Gary Grindal and Lynda Needham. |
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MINUTES - 8 MARCH 2017 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 8 March 2017 Decision: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 8 March 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. Minutes: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 8 March 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.
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MINUTES - 18 MAY 2017 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 18 May 2018. Decision: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 18 May 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. Minutes: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 18 May 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.
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NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS Members should notify the Chairman of other business which they wish to be discussed by the Committee at the end of the 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 Chairman will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered. Decision: There was no other business notified. Minutes: There was no other business notified. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS 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 Chairman 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 which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote. Decision: (1) The Chairman welcomed those present at the meeting, especially those who had attended to give a presentation;
(2) The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;
(3) The Chairman advised that he had agreed to move Item 8 – Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Manager forward and this would now be considered as the next item.
(4) The Chairman drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question. Minutes: (1) The Chairman welcomed those present at the meeting, especially those who had attended to give a presentation;
(2) The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;
(3) The Chairman advised that he had agreed to move Item 8 – Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Manager forward and this would now be considered as the next item.
(4) The Chairman drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question. |
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - MS THERAPY CENTRE Decision: The Communities Officer advised that Mr Mark Boscher of the MS Therapy Centre had been called away to attend a sick relative and therefore was unable to attend this meeting to make a presentation. Minutes: The Communities Officer advised that Mr Mark Boscher of the MS Therapy Centre had been called away to attend a sick relative and therefore was unable to attend this meeting to make a presentation.
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GRANTS AND COMMUNITY UPDATE REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, POLICY AND GOVERNANCE.
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. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED:
(1) That the Communities Officer be requested to include updates regarding how grant funding awards were used and the success of any events for which grant funding was provided in all future reports.
(2) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Development and Visioning Budgets be noted;
(3) That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Letchworth Garden City be endorsed;
REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in Letchworth Garden City. Minutes: The Communities Officer presented the report of the Strategic Director of Finance, Policy and Governance entitled Grants and Community Update.
She advised that the report had been written some time ago for the meeting that was due to have been held in early June 2017, due to the General Election that meeting was postponed and therefore some of the information was no longer valid and drew attention to the following:
Grant Application – Cheap as Chips The grant application for Cheap as Chips had been withdrawn as sadly this organisation had now disbanded.
Mrs Pauline Worland, who had run the organisation for many years retired and there was no-one wiling to take on the responsibility.
They did a really good job for many years and this should be recognised.
Grant Application – Armed Forces Day This event had now taken place and, due to the timing of the event, the Strategic Director of Finance, Policy and Governance had authorised payment of the grant.
This event had been very well attended.
Joan Ellis, the organiser of this event for the British Legeon had retired and moved away from the area, therefore a new Committee would be organising next year’s event.
The Community Officer would offer support to the new Committee.
Updates on Previous Grant Awards Members welcomed the updates on previous grant awards and commented that this sort of information should be provided on a regular basis.
The Communities Officer advised that she would, in future, report on any grants for which progress had been made or had been granted in the last year.
Highways Matters Councillor Hone advised that he had not, in his role as a County Councillor, received any requests from Members regarding highways matters and therefore assumed that the Committee was content and reminded Members to contact him if they wished to discuss any highways related issues.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Communities Officer be requested to include updates regarding how grant funding awards were used and the success of any events for which grant funding was provided in all future reports.
(2) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Development and Visioning Budgets be noted;
(3) That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Letchworth Garden City be endorsed;
REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in Letchworth Garden City. |
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GRANT APPLICATION - MS THERAPY CENTRE Decision: RESOLVED:That grant funding of £1,113 be awarded to Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of training staff to provide specialist Plates sessions for those with MS and other neurological conditions..
REASON FOR DECISION:To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. Minutes: The Communities Officer reminded Members that Mr Boscher, Chief Executive of the MS Therapy Centre had been called away to attend a sick relative and asked the Committee to take into account the extenuating circumstances and consider the grant application.
This charity was one of the Chairman’s Charities in 2016/17 and Members were fully acquainted with the work of the organisation.
She drew attention to Paragraph 8.1.1 of the report which gave details of the MS Therapy Centre and the grant application.
The request was for £1,113 towards the cost of training staff to provide specialist Pilates sessions, aimed specifically at those with MS and other neurological conditions. These sessions would help those taking part to maintain mobility and remain independent and in employment for as long as possible.
RESOLVED:That grant funding of £1,113 be awarded to Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of training staff to provide specialist Plates sessions for those with MS and other neurological conditions..
REASON FOR DECISION:To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
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GRANT APPLICATION - ARMED FORCES DAY Decision: The Communities Officer advised that her report had been written prior to the meetings being postponed due to the General Election.
This grant had been awarded under delegated powers and the event had taken place and been a great success. Minutes: The Communities Officer advised that her report had been written prior to the meetings being postponed due to the General Election.
This grant had been awarded under delegated powers and the event had taken place and been a great success. |
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LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY TOWN CENTRE MANAGER To receive a presentation from Tom Hardy, Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Manager regarding the activities and issues relating to Letchworth Garden City Town Centre. Decision: Prior to the item being discussed Councillor David Levett declared a Declarable Interest as he was a member of the BID Board, but as there was no decision to be made on this item as it was only for reporting purposes he would remain in the room.
Mr Tom Hardy, Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Manager, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the issues and activities in the town centre.
The Chairman thanked Mr Hardy for his presentation. Minutes: Prior to the item being discussed Councillor David Levett declared a Declarable Interest as he was a member of the BID Board, but as there was no decision to be made on this item as it was only for reporting purposes he would remain in the room.
Mr Tom Hardy, Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Manager, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the issues and activities in the Town Centre as follows:
Town Centre/BID Manager Mr Hardy had been in post as Town Centre and BID Manager for 18 months and had taken the BID through the 2016/17 year.
They were currently working through the 2017/18 action plan.
At the end of this year work would start on the re-balloting process, which would involve consulting extensively with the businesses within the Business Improvement District in order to devise the 2020/24 Business Plan.
Annual Report The Annual Report summarised what the BID had been doing over the last 12 months as they worked through the current Business Plan.
Copies had been distributed to those Members present at the meeting.
2016 Events and Activities Four major events had been held in the Town during 2016 being:
Food and Drink Festival Town Centre Takeover Letchworth Beer and World Food Festival Christmas Light Switch On.
A new general market was introduced, which had evolved onto a food and lifestyle market.
A car boot sale was held weekly and the Farmers Market was now branded as a BID initiative.
The BID supported the Letchworth Festival by providing a stage and taking part in planning meetings.
They provided regular entertainment within the Town Centre such as buskers and street entertainers.
The BID jointly developed the first running event in the Town Centre called Running in the Garden.
Benefits for Business The BID aimed to ensure that the events had a positive effect on businesses and to support this have produced maps and trails to encourage people to move around the Town and visit shops to get stamps. They had developed different trails to suit different customers including an Easter Trail, Vintage Shop Trail and for the future an Arts Trail.
Parking The BID had worked with NHDC and other organisations to lobby for improved signage within the Town and car parks and this was implemented in October 2016.
They were in the process of lobbying the Council regarding improved car park payment mechanisms.
The Bid funded the start up of and continued to part fund Disabled Go, a web site aimed to help disabled people access the Town Centre.
Marketing and Communications The BID had developed new quarterly marketing campaigns such as the Discover Letchworth column in the midweek Mercury and the Our Tom Hardy page in the Comet.
Businesses were kept up to date with a newsletter and the Letchworth in Business Meetings.
Last year the BID ran quarterly radio and newspaper campaigns and worked on expanding the social media input which was a really ... view the full minutes text for item 13. |
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WARD MATTERS AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS To receive any oral reports from Members regarding Ward matters and Outside Organisations. Decision: Members discused the following Ward and Outside Bodies:
· Howard Garden Social and Day Care Centre Minutes: Howard Garden Social and Day Care Centre Councillor Kercher advised that she had always supported the Howard Garden Social and Day Care Centre and was a trustee, but she would be resigning this position in May 2018 and the Centre was looking for a replacement Trustee. She asked that Councillors support the search for the right person to take on this role. |
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