Agenda item

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

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

To bring to the Members’ attention recent requests received for Committee grant funding, made by community groups and local organisations.

To advise of the activities and schemes with which the Community Engagement officers have been involved in.

To bring to the Members’ attention some important community-based activities that will take place during the next few months.

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

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   To ensure the 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.

Audio recording – 77 minutes 22 seconds

The Assistant Community Engagement Officer presented the report entitled ‘Grants and Community Update’ and advised Members of the following:

·         There had been events taking place to support Local Democracy Week and Parliament Week, with some Councillors attending these, which included Q&As and school assemblies.

·         There were plans underway to expand these sessions for next year with a view to make them more regular events.

·         Recent surgeries had taken place as usual, but had been located under the Churchgate arch to promote the ongoing consultation work.

·         The Community Engagement Team were planning the Holocaust Memorial Day event on 27 January 2023.

·         There was support being shared on Council platforms regarding the cost of living crisis and following attendance at the Churches Together event, it was advised that at least one building would be open every day for people requiring somewhere to stay warm.

·         The would be an infographic produced to highlight support and services available.

·         The Snowman Trail had proved popular and demonstrated the role art can play in Hitchin, bringing together young and old people, and helping with attracting tourists to the town. There would be a photograph competition in January, to extend the Trail into the new year.

·         The Chair’s Volunteer Awards had changed to the Herts Hero Awards, with the same five categories for nominations. The team would be promoting this over coming weeks and the final would take place in the Council Chamber.

·         They had provided support for the Hitchin Christmas tree festival and were working closely with Councillors to support the Farmers on Christmas Lights Tour event.

·         Updates had been received from previous successful grant applicants, including the Hitchin Allotments and ‘Home is Where the Hert Is’.

The Chair noted that the sessions which took place in schools and the Holocaust Memorial Day event were two further legacies of Councillor Judi Billing at North Herts.

Councillor Richard Thake noted that Mr Paul Dee, who had previously come to the Hitchin Area Committee for grant funding for an allotment scheme, was now looking to extend these sessions across the district and had applied for HCC Locality Budget funding to support this.

Councillor Keith Hoskins commented that the increase in community cohesion since the pandemic had been astonishing and this was attributable to the work of the Officer.

In response to questions from Councillor Hoskins and Councillor Nigel Mason, the Assistant Community Engagement Officer advised that the grant funds remaining after the last meeting of the civic year could be rolled over into next year. He noted that he was in talks with a couple of exciting projects for the new year and was aware of the funds available for the group to allocate.

Councillor Ian Albert, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Keith Hoskins seconded and, following a vote, it was:

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

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)  To ensure the 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.