Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were recorded from Councillors peter Green, Julie Mayhew-Archer and Laurel Symons.

To adopt and sign as a correct the Minutes of the Meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 19 October 2006, (previously circulated with the Council Summons dated 13 December 2006). 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 19 October 2006 were adopted and signed as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of Personal or Personal and Prejudicial Interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

In accordance with Part 2 of the Local Code of Conduct and the provisions of Standing Order 34, any Member with a personal interest must disclose the existence and nature of that interest to the meeting prior to the matter being debated.  Where that personal interest is also a prejudicial interest, then the Member must withdraw from the room in which the meeting is being held and not seek improperly to influence any decision about the matter unless he/she has obtained a dispensation from the Standards Committee.

Members declared interests in report 170/06 – Community Grants as follows: -

To receive notification of any matters, which the Chair determines, should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances, which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the Chair.

None.

Any statements and/or petitions from the public under Standing Order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting.

None.

Any questions from members of the public under Standing Order 32 will be asked at the meeting.

None.

To receive and consider report 170/06 of the Strategic Director (attached).

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to advise on the new process for delegating the determination of grants, to set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants in 2006/07 and in 2007/08, to invite Members to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting and to invite Members to agree a principle for awarding grants for additional parish cleansing.

The Contact Officer for this report is Lorna Edwards, Community Strategy Officer (Tel: 01235 547626)

Recommendations

(a)        Members are asked to note that the process for delegating the determination of community grants applications (outlined in the report at Appendix A) has been approved by the Executive and that the grant narratives have been amended to reflect this

(b)        Members are asked to note that the Committee’s remaining budget for 2006/07 is £12,680.48

(c)        Members are asked to consider and determine the grant application, the agenda and the Council priority in respect of the following:

(i)                 Abingdon & District Musical Society, up to £677, to cover potential concert loss, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(ii)        1 Brewers Court, Abingdon, towards tree maintenance, Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(iii)       30 Hillview Road, Abingdon, towards tree maintenance, Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(iv)       67 Abingdon Road, Drayton, towards tree maintenance, Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(d)        Members are asked to note that the Abingdon Area Committee’s budget for 2007/08 is£28,388;

(e)        Members are invited to request that the Executive approves the carrying forward of any unspent grant budget from 2006/07 into 2007/08;

(f)         Members are asked to determine their principle for awarding grants for additional parish cleansing in 2007/08 and invited to determine these grants as set out in Appendix C to the report, to be paid from the 2007/08 budget;

(g)        Members are asked to note the range of projects, services and events supported by the Abingdon Area Committee in 2006/07 to date, as shown at Appendix D to this report.

Councillor Roz Smith had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the grant application towards tree maintenance at 67 Abingdon Road, Drayton and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of that part of the report.

Councillor Richard Webber had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the parish cleansing grant application from Drayton Parish Council and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of that part of the report.

Councillor Gervase Duffield had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the parish cleansing grant application from Appleford Parish Council and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of that part of the report.

Councillor Alison Rooke had declared a personal interest in grant award to APAGE and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she remained in the meeting during the consideration of that part of the report.

The Committee received and considered report 170/06 of the Strategic Director which set out the new process for delegating the determination of grants; set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants in 2006/07 and in 2007/08 and invited the Committee to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting and to agree a principle for awarding grants for additional parish cleansing.

The report was considered in detail and the following comments made: -

1 Brewers Court, Abingdon - Tree Maintenance

It was considered that the proposed works would improve the appearance of the tree and would address concerns regarding its safety.

30 Hillview Road, Abingdon – Tree Maintenance

Some concern was expressed regarding the need to retain the shape and overall appearance of the tree.  However, it was noted that the works to the tree had already been undertaken and that the Council’s Arboricultural Officer was satisfied with the works.  It was emphasised that the Officer’s report should specify whether works had been carried out or not.

67 Abingdon Road, Drayton – Tree Maintenance

One Member questioned the benefit of this tree to the public.  However, another Member indicated that in having a Tree Preservation Order placed on it, the Council had already determined that the tree was of public benefit.

One Member commented that the cost if the works was very high and it was uncertain whether the works had been undertaken.  The Officers were again requested to ensure this information was contained in the report.  Furthermore, it was considered that grants for tree works should be determined under delegated authority it being noted that it was preferable for applications to be considered prior to the works being undertaken and that the Officer could award up to £500.

The Committee considered that this application should be determined by the Head of Community Strategy in consultation with the local Members.

Parish Cleansing Grants

The Committee considered that each application should be considered on its merits having regard to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

None.