Agenda item

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

The Chair Led a discussion regarding Ward Matters and Outside organisations. The following issues were discussed:

 

·                Letchworth Settlement

·                Proposed Bandstand on Norton Common

·                Letchworth Organisations

·                Food Rescue and Delivery

·                Letchworth Community

·                Roadworks

·                Councillor Surgery

·                Committee, Member and Scrutiny Team and IT Department

 

RESOLVED: That the Community Engagement Team continue to engage with the Letchworth Settlement to offer support wherever possible and signpost to other organisations that may also be able to assist and that they keep the Members of the Committee updated.

Audio Recording – 55 minutes 3 seconds

 

The Chair Led a discussion regarding Ward Matters and Outside organisations. The following issues were discussed:

 

Letchworth Settlement

 

The Letchworth Settlement had made an announcement that they would be closing on 31 July 2020 with all staff being made redundant.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Gary Grindal;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Mike Rice;

·                Councillor Terry Hone;

·                Councillor Ian Mantle;

·                Councillor Helen Oliver;

 

The comments by Members included:

 

·                The Settlement had been self financing from courses and rental income;

·                Was there any way that NHDC could support the Settlement with grant funding;

·                The annual running costs of the Settlement were high;

·                There were a number of other organisations that would be affected by the closure as they used facilities at the settlement;

·                Can we ask the BID to provide some business advice.

 

The Assistant Community Engagement Officer advised that:

 

·                The Settlement had not approached NHDC for any funding.

·                There were potential grants that the Settlement could apply for;

·                In the past it had been difficult to engage with this organisation;

·                The Community Engagement Team had been in contact with Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and Letchworth Settlement to discuss potential support that could be offered to the Settlement.;

·                The ownership of the building is complicated and needed to be understood at an early stage.

 

Proposed Bandstand on Norton Common

 

There was a small groundswell of opinion that a bandstand should be reinstated on Norton Common.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Ian Mantle;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Mike Rice;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen.

 

Comments from Members included:

 

·                That the original bandstand was removed as the maintenance costs were extremely high and it was never used:

·                If there were a new bandstand it would have to be used regularly;

·                This would be a very expensive luxury and the Council had more important things to do;

·                County Councillors had been approached and had reservations regarding this project;

·                The focus of events was on Broadway Gardens.

·                Norton Common was now a local nature reserve, which may mean that a bandstand could not be built there.

 

Letchworth Organisations

 

Councillor David Levett highlighted that several organisations were struggling in the current circumstances and were at risk of closure. They had been advised to contact the Community Engagement Team.

 

Food Rescue and Delivery

 

Councillor Daniel Allen highlighted that guerrilla groups had been set up in Warren Close and the Grange to collect rescued food and deliver it to those in need.

 

Letchworth Community

 

Councillor Daniel Allen acknowledged the work being undertaken by many formal and informal groups throughout Letchworth.

 

Roadworks

 

Councillor Hone advised that there would be significant roadwork on the A1M at Coreys Mill from 7 July 2020 to 12 August 2020 which could result in significant local road closures and diversions.

 

Councillor Surgery

 

The Letchworth Councillor Surgery would be held on Saturday 20 June via phone calls to the local Councillors.

 

Committee, Member and Scrutiny Team and IT Department

 

The Chairman thanked the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Team and IT Department for all of their hard work in enabling meetings to take place virtually.

 

RESOLVED: That the Community Engagement Team continue to engage with the Letchworth Settlement to offer support wherever possible and signpost to other organisations that may also be able to assist and that they keep the Members of the Committee updated.