Agenda item

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY MANAGER

To advise the Committee of the activities and schemes with which the Community Engagement Officer has been involved in.

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

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 –

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

·         Updated Members on the outstanding balances for grant funds.

·         Advised of possible future grant applications and encouraged Members to advise any groups that may require funding that they can apply for Area Grants by the middle of January 2022.

·         Reviewed the events in the town since the last meeting and discussed plans and involvement of upcoming events.

Councillor Michael Muir advised that, should the Coronavirus Support Group apply for grant funding at a future meeting, he would likely be a trustee and would therefore declare an interest at the appropriate time.

The following Members took part in the debate and asked questions:

·         Councillor Tom Tyson

·         Councillor Michael Muir

·         Councillor Jim McNally

·         Councillor Juan Cowell

The debate and questions included the following points:

·         The Baldock Big Lunch was unable to happen this year, but was now scheduled for 5 June 2022 to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

·         The Baldock Beast was impacted by the weather and the event was forcibly scaled back due to this, but still had around 350 runners attend.

·         The Remembrance Day events took place and had around 300 people attend.

·         Councillor McNally noted that it was disappointing that no hymns were sung this year due to Covid restrictions. Councillor Muir, as President of the Royal British Legion in Baldock, advised that this was due to a decision taken when cases were still high, but hymns would return for future events.

·         The Baldock Christmas Market took place successfully this year. Stallholders were inside, rather than on the High Street as previously, and this had received positive feedback.

·         Owing to Covid restrictions still in place the Trips Up The Tower at St Mary’s Church were unable to go ahead.

·         Social media feedback from the event had been overwhelmingly positive.

Councillor Juan Cowell requested that more emphasis be given to promoting events in the town on social media, as often he only knew of events through updates received as a Councillor.

Councillor Jim McNally wished to express his thanks to the musicians and performers who had performed at the Baldock Christmas Fair free of charge.

Councillor Jim McNally, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Michael Weeks seconded and it was:

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

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.