Agenda item

Introduction and Report Summary

 

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

 

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

 

Recommendations

 

(a)        Members are asked to note that the Committee’s current budget is £13,850.12

 

(b)        Members are asked to determine the grant award, the agenda and the Council priority in respect of the following:

 

(i)                  Abingdon Jazz Club, £500, towards the cost of monthly jazz events, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

 

(ii)                Abindgon Decorative & Fine Arts, £500, towards an exhibition of children’s art as part of the Charter celebrations, Social Agenda, Town & Village vitality priority

 

(iii)               Abbey Brass, £500, towards the cost of repairs to the band-room portacabins, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

 

(iv)              Abingdon Musical Festival Association, £400, towards the cost of a concerto class, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

 

(v)               Abingdon Concert Band, £2,400, towards the cost of buying timpanis and putting on a play day to attract new members, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

 

(vi)              7 Dorchester Crescent, a grant towards the cost of tree maintenance, Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

 

(c)        Members are asked to reconsider the application for tree maintenance considered at the meeting on 11 October to determine whether, in the light of further information, the award of an additional grant is appropriate.

 

(d)               Members are asked to note that supplementary guidance for grants supporting historic buildings, work on trees, countryside conservation and parish cleansing has been agreed and will be available to them in the near future

 

(e)               Members are asked to receive the report from AbingdonTown Council on their twinning activities and determine whether the grant of £2,500 agreed under the Service Level Agreement can be paid.

The Committee received and considered report 220/05 of the Strategic Director, the purpose of which was to set out the current budget position for this Committee in respect of community grants and to invite Members to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting.

 

The Committee noted that the budget position was £14,350.12.  One Member referred to the proportioning of the budget across the environmental, social and economic agenda and proposed that the funds be re-proportioned as necessary.  The Committee supported this suggestion.

 

The Committee considered the grant applications set out in the report and made specific comments as follows:-

 

1.         Abingdon Jazz Club

 

It was noted that the Town Council had given a grant of £100 towards publicity.

 

There was some concern that a membership fee was not charged and it was suggested that an informative be added to any grant offer suggesting that this should be considered.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mary de Vere and seconded by Councillor Laurel Symons that a grant of £200 be awarded but this was lost by 6 votes to 4, with 1 abstention.

 

It was then proposed by Councillor Mike Badcock that no grant be offered but this was not seconded.

 

2.         Abingdon Decorative and Fine Arts

 

(Councillor Tony de Vere had declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he remained in the meeting during its consideration).

 

Members supported the application.

 

3.         Abbey Brass

 

The grant award of the Town Council was unknown.  Reference was made to the comments of the Vale’s Art Development Officer and it was considered that her advice and guidance should be offered on publicity and sustainability of the group.  It was noted that the concern had been that the building used was in a poor condition and high levels of expenditure were required on maintenance.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mike Badcock that a grant be offered up to the amount requested less any amount given by the Town Council with the Strategic Director being delegated authority to approve this, but this was not supported.

 

4.         Abingdon Musical Festival Association

 

The Committee had regard to the statement made earlier in the meeting by the member of the public.

 

Members supported the application but considered that young people should be encouraged to attend.

 

5.         Abingdon Concert Band

 

The Committee had regard to the statement made earlier in the meeting by a member of the public.

 

The Committee questioned the level of financial assistance sought and furthermore it was commented that a pair of tympanums might be available from another source.

 

At this point in the meeting it was

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)        that the meeting of the Committee do adjourn for five minutes to enable clarification to be sought from the applicant regarding a number of questions raised.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7.55pm.

 

The meeting reconvened at 8.00pm.

 

The Committee noted that a membership fee was charged and that following research into a set of tympanum which might be available it had become apparent that they were unsuitable.

 

6.         7 Dorchester Crescent

 

A photograph of the trees was displayed at the meeting.  Members supported the application.

 

7.         Tree Works – Shelley Court, Abingdon

 

The Committee recalled that the owners of Shelley Court, Abingdon had been awarded a grant of £200 under delegated authority from this Committee towards the carrying out of works to various trees located around the Court covered by Tree Preservation Orders.  In view of the size of the trees, their proximity to neighbouring properties and the resulting high maintenance costs, an application had now been received for additional funding and the Committee was asked to reconsider the application.  The Committee supported the proposal, noting the extent of the works which had included the hiring of a crane and the need to employ trained people to undertake their maintenance.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Jim Halliday that a further grant of £600, totalling £800, be offered towards the work.  However, this was not seconded.

 

Councillor Julie Mayhew-Archer proposed that a total grant of £500 be awarded towards the work but this was not seconded.

 

8.         Abingdon Town Council Twinning Activities – Service Level Agreement – Grant Payment

 

(Councillor Jim Halliday had declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he remained in the meeting during its consideration.)

 

(Councillors Julie Mayhew-Archer, Peter Jones and Monica Lovatt had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in part of this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they withdrew from the meeting during consideration of that part.)

 

Councillor Jim Halliday, the Vice-Chair in the Chair.

 

The Committee noted that the Twinning Officer had resigned but it was hoped that a replacement officer would be appointed soon.  The Committee welcomed the report of the Town Council but considered that it would have been useful to have received a statement from a representative of the Town Council as further points of clarification were needed.  The Committee recalled that at the last meeting details of the Service Level Agreement had been received and it was commented that civic functions should be highlighted separately.  Members considered that it would be useful to receive details of how many societies had been helped and how many individuals had benefited. To this end, the Committee considered that the Town Council should be requested to write a more detailed report to the meeting of the Committee next year.

           

RESOLVED

 

(b)        that the Committee’s current budget of £14,350.12 be noted;

 

(c)        that such funds as are required be transferred from the economic priority to the social priority to meet the grant awards as set out below (agreed by 9 votes to nil, with 2 abstentions);

 

(d)        that the following grants be awarded:-

 

Applicant	Scheme	Grant / Decision
Abingdon Jazz Club	Monthly jazz events	£100 subject to the club being recommended to consider charging a membership fee (Social Agenda / Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Peter Jones and agreed by 8 votes to 2, with 1 abstention)
Abingdon Decorative and Fine Arts	An exhibition of children’s art as part of the Charter celebrations	£500 (Social Agenda / Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Mike Badcock, seconded by Councillor Monica Lovatt and agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 abstention)
Abbey Brass	Repairs to the band room portacabins	£500, with the Vale’s Arts Development Officer being requested to offer advice and guidance on publicity and sustainability of the group (Social Agenda / Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Jim Halliday, and agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 abstention)
Abingdon Musical Festival Association	A concerto class	£400 subject to the Association encouraging young people to attend perhaps by way of reduced ticket prices (Social Agenda / Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Janet Morgan, seconded by Councillor Gervase Duffield and agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 abstention)
Abingdon Concert Band	The purchase of tympanums and the hosting of a play day to attract new members	That consideration of the application be deferred pending further information on other grant applications sought, but that it be agreed that the Committee is minded to approve in principle a grant of up to £1,000 subject to discussions with the applicant regarding other funding sources and the Vale Arts Development Officer being asked to give advice on publicity and sustainability of the group (proposed by Councillor Roz Smith, seconded by Councillor Janet Morgan and agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 abstention)   Underwriting of up to £100   (Social Agenda/Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Jim Halliday, seconded by Councillor Laurel Symons and agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 abstention)
7 Dorchester Crescent	Tree maintenance	£44.64 (Environmental Agenda/Town and Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Tony de Vere, seconded by Councillor Gervase Duffield and agreed by 7 votes to 2, with 1 abstention, with one of the voting Members not being present during consideration of this item)
Shelley Court, Abingdon	Works to various trees located around the court covered by Tree Preservation Orders	A further £200 (Environmental Agenda / Town And Village Vitality Priority) (proposed by Councillor Laurel Symons, seconded by Councillor Gervase Duffield, and agreed by 8 votes to 1, with 1 abstention, with one of the voting Members not being present during consideration of this item)

 

(e)        that it be noted that the supplementary guidance for grants supporting historic buildings, works on trees, countryside conservation and parish cleansing has been agreed and will be available in the near future;

 

(f)         that the report from Abingdon Town Council on its Twinning Activities be received and a grant of £2,500 agreed under the Service Level Agreement be paid, but that the Town Council be requested to prepare a more detailed report for consideration by the Committee next year, preferably with an Officer from the Town Council being invited to attend to make a presentation to the Committee (agreed by 6 votes to 1, with four of the voting Members not being present during consideration of this item).