Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Samantha Bowring, Gervase Duffield and Janet Morgan.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 25 July 2007 (attached). 

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on the 25 July 2007 were adopted and signed as a correct record.

In respect of Minute Ab.10 – Community Grants, recommendation 5(b), it was noted that the monitoring information required from Abingdon Town Council and the Drayton Twinning Society had yet to be received.

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

Any Member with a personal interest or a personal and prejudicial interest in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct, in any matter to be considered at a meeting, must declare the existence and nature of that interest as soon as the interest becomes apparent in accordance with the provisions of the Code.

When a Member declares a personal and prejudicial interest he shall also state if he has a dispensation from the Standards Committee entitling him/her to speak, or speak and vote on the matter concerned.

Where any Member has declared a personal and prejudicial interest he shall withdraw from the room while the matter is under consideration unless

(a)    His/her disability to speak, or speak and vote on the matter has been removed by a dispensation granted by the Standards Committee, or

(b)    members of the public are allowed to make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter by statutory right or otherwise.  If that is the case, the Member can also attend the meeting for that purpose.  However, the Member must immediately leave the room once he/she has finished; or when the meeting decides he/she has finished whichever is the earlier and in any event the Member must leave the room for the duration of the debate on the item in which he/she has a personal and prejudicial interest.

Declarations of interest were made in respect of report 90/07 – Community Grants (Minute Ab.18 refers) 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.

The Chair made the following announcements:-

Abingdon Area Forum will take place on Wednesday 14^th November 2007

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

The Chair reported that notice had been received from six members of the public that they each wished to make a statement at the meeting.  Statements were made as follows: -

(1)      Rosemary Joseph – Abingdon Festival Music Association

Rosemary Joseph made a statement in support of the application for a grant to the Abingdon Festival Music Association.  She informed the Committee that the Festival had been launched 10 years ago and was an annual opportunity for young people to make music. There was a warm and friendly atmosphere which attracted people from various backgrounds. She pointed out that there were few opportunities for young people to play as soloists with orchestras and this scheme provided an opportunity to allow up to three performers to play. She explained that the winner would be able to perform in a full concert, which she stated was a wonderful opportunity. The first Concerto class had been in 2005 and had been held again in 2006. She stated that she hoped it would be held again in 2008. She commented that next year, local funding would be required. However the Association was looking for permanent funding given that ajudicators from outside the area were costly. 

          The Chair thanked Rosemary Joseph for her statement.

(2)      Roger Wilkinson – Abingdon Concert Band

MrRoger Wilkinson made a statement in support of the application from the Abingdon Concert Band. He advised the Committee that the Band had played at various local performances in the area and was well supported by local people. He advised that the Band met weekly and would give performances in the local area, such as at fetes, shows, charity events and concerts. He explained that the attendance at these events was indicative of the enjoyment and appreciation that the Band brought to the local community.  Mr Wilkinson spoke of the recent joint Proms type event with Abingdon’s Town Band in the Guildhall earlier in October commenting that it had been extremely popular, with a near capacity audience enjoying the well known pieces performed. 

Mr Wilkinson explained the composition of the Band advising that players of all ages gave up their time to meet on a weekly basis to rehearse a wide variety of music for the concert venues. He reported that the Band was a registered charity and was therefore self funding, relying heavily on donations from charity events and other fund raising activities. He explained that the Band actively sought new players.

Mr Wilkinson reported that the current grant application was to assist in the funding of a set of new banners for the Band. He explained that the existing banners were over 25 years old and inevitably suffering from wear and tear and in need of replacement. It was planned that the Band’s logo would be incorporated onto the new set of banners, thereby presenting a professional contemporary image. He explained that whilst giving the Band a more vibrant image, the banners would also help promote Abingdon as a centre synonymous  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

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

None

To receive and consider report 90/07 of the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer (attached).

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants and to invite Members to consider and determine the grant applications received.

The contact officer for this report is Lorna Edwards, Community Strategy Officer (tel: 01235 547626), e-mail address lorna.edwards@whitehorsedc.gov.uk.

Recommendations

(a)      that Members note that the current budget position for the Abingdon Area Committee is £23,871.63;

(b)      that Members consider and determine the grant applications, the agenda and the Council priority in respect of the following: -

(i)                 Dorchester Sailing Club, £2,000, towards the cost of building new on-shore facilities, Social Agenda, Access to Services priority.

(ii)               Compass Café, £5,000, towards the cost of employing a part-time youth worker, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitalitypriority,

(iii)     Abingdon Concert Band, £700, towards the cost of new banners, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(iv)             Abingdon Performance Arts Group Enterprise (APAGE), £4,000, towards the cost of producing and distributing the 2008 festival brochure, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(v)      Abingdon Festival Music Association, £500, towards the cost of holding a concerto class, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(c)      that Members note the update from the North East Abingdon Community Association and agree that the grant amount previously awarded by the Abingdon Area Committee is still available for the amended project as outlined in the narrative at Appendix B to this report.

The Committee received and considered report 90/07 of the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer which set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants and invited Members to consider and determine the grant applications received.

A number of statements were made by members of the public earlier in the meeting which the Committee had regard to when considering the applications.

Each of the applications were considered in detail and the follow comments made:-

(1)          Grant Application - Dorchester Sailing Club

One Member highlighted that approximately 35% of the membership of the Club lived in the Vale.

(2)          Grant Application - Compass Café

(CouncillorAlison Rooke had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she left the meeting during its consideration)

(Councillors Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan, Julie Mayhew Archer and Laurel Symons had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration)

One Member commended the project in that he believed that it would be beneficial for young people.

Another Member suggested that the grant offer should be subject to the grant being used specifically for the employment of a part time youth worker and not for general administration.  This was supported by other Members of the Committee.

(3)          Grant Application – Abingdon Concert Band

(Councillors Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan and Julie Mayhew Archer had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration)

In response to a question raised, it was noted that the banners would be used to hang over the music stands and were important in terms of the Band’s appearance.

(4)              Grant Application  - Abingdon Performance Arts Group Enterprise (APAGE)

(Councillors Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Jim Halliday, Julie Mayhew Archer and Alison Rooke had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration)

One Member reminded the Committee that Members had previously been concerned regarding APAGE achieving value for money in terms of the brochure as a method of advertising. It was reported that tenders were about to be received.

One Member questioned whether the brochures were the most effective way of advertising, although other Members considered that the brochure was a good advertising tool. Another Member expressed concern that the Committee gave a grant each year to the same organisation for the same project.   It was commented that APAGE was a well organised “umbrella” organisation giving publicity for many events. It was suggested that a survey of audiences to determine how they had become aware of an individual event might be beneficial.

The Committee supported the offer of a grant, although one Member suggested that this should be subject to APAGE accepting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

None.