Agenda and decisions

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore no apologies for absence were received. Where required decisions were made under delegated authority.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 8 January 2020.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the Minutes of the Southern Rural Committee on 8 January 2020 will be approved at the next formal meeting of the Committee.

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.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there were no Chair’s announcements.

To receive a presentation from Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there was no presentation from Hertfordshire Constabulary.

To receive petitions and presentations from members of the public including:

1.         Codicote Tennis Club;

2.         Offley Entertainment Committee;

3.         Preston Summer Swim; and

4.             St Pauls Warden Primary School PTA.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there was no public participation.

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

To advise the Committee on the current expenditure and balances of the Area Committee budgets.

To bring to the Committee’s attention details of recent requests received for Area Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations, which conform to the Authority’s Grants Policy approved by Cabinet on June 14th 2016.

In respect of the grant applications for Offley Entertainment Committee and Preston Summer Swim, it was advised that, due to the Covid-19 situation, these events would no longer be taking place on the original planned dates, therefore the Community Engagement Officer advised that these applications would be deferred until such time as further information is available.

RECORD OF DECISION MADE UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY

(as a result of the Southern Rural Committee on 26 March 2020 being cancelled due to Covid-19 situation)

SERVICE DIRECTORATE: Legal and Community

4.       REASON FOR DECISION

The Southern Rural Committee on 26 March 2020 was cancelled due to the Covid-19 situation.

The awarding of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and the use of discretionary spending allows the Committee to further the aims of the Corporate Plan.

5.       CONSULTATION WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Consultation including the effect on stakeholders, partners and the public is contained within the report published with the Southern Rural Committee agenda for meeting on 26 March 2020.

Given the current Covid-19 situation and government advice regarding gatherings, the meeting of the Southern Rural Committee was not possible.  Therefore, the Committee Members were requested to provide an indication as to how they would have voted and any comments as to guide the decision maker.

By the prescribed deadline 6 votes were cast in favour of the recommendation and there was 1 abstention.

The following Members of the Southern Rural Committee voted:

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Ian Moody;

·                Councillor John Bishop;

·                Councillor George Davies;

·                Councillor Faye Frost;

·                Councillor Terry Tyler; and

·                Councillor Lisa Nash.

The following Members offered comments, as summarised below:

·                Councillor Ian Moody advised that he would be happy to see an amountgiven to Codicote Tennis Club. However, he felt £3500 was a large amount.

·                Councillor Lisa Nash advised that the amount requested seemed rather large considering what has been given to other groups but would be happy to go ahead if others were.

6.       SUPPORTING REPORT

Other information relevant to the decision, such as legal, financial, risk, social value and equality implications, is contained within the report published with the Southern Rural agenda for the meeting on 26 March 2020 via link below:

https://democracy.north-herts.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=153&MId=2258

NOTIFICATION DATE

3.4.2020

Signature of Executive Member Decision taker …………………………………

Date ………30.3.2020…………………………..

Signature of Service Director: Legal and Community

Call-in does not apply to NON-EXECUTIVE DECISIONS

In respect of Executive Decisions, as per section 6.3.11(b) of the Constitution ‘Call-In and Urgency’, the call-in procedure does not apply when the decision being taken is urgent.  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

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

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there were  no Ward Matters reported.