Agenda item

To receive and consider report 176/07 of the Head of Community Strategy and the 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 for the remainder of 2007/08 and in 2008/09, to invite Members to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting, to invite Members to decide on their principle for awarding grants towards additional parish cleansing in 2008/09 and to determine the applications received for this purpose.

 

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 remaining budget for 2007/08

 is £12,271.63

 

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

 

(i)                 Sutton Courtenay Parish Council, £500, towards the cost of a replacement map for the village, Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(ii)               The Church of St Michael & All Angels, Abingdon, £8,000, towards the cost of essential repairs to a listed building and redevelopment of the Community Room, Environmental and Social Agendas, Town & Village Vitality priority

(iii)             Abingdon & District Musical Society, £800, towards potential losses on a concert, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(iv)            Sutton Courtenay Cricket Club, £470, towards the purchase of kit for young people on their Youth Development Programme, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

(v)              Abingdon Band, £1,000, towards the purchase of instruments for use by new members, Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority

   

 (c) Members are asked to note that the Abingdon Area Committee’s budget for 2008/09 is£25,997

 

(d) Members are invited to request that the Executive approves the carrying forward of any unspent grant budget from 2007/08 into 2008/09

 

(e) Members are asked to determine their principle for awarding grants for

Additional parish cleansing in 2008/09 and invited to determine these grants to be paid from the 2008/09 budget.

 

 

The Committee received and considered report 176/07 of the Strategic Director which set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants for the remainder of 2007/08 and in 2008/09; invited Members to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting; invited Members to decide on their principle for awarding grants towards additional parish cleansing in 2008/09 and asked the Committee to determine the applications received for this purpose.

 

The Committee noted an amendment to the report in that the full amount of two grant offers had not been taken up and therefore £226.34 could be added to the total budget.

 

Each of the applications were considered in details and the following comments made: -

 

(1)       Grant Application - Sutton Courtenay Parish Council

 

Members supported the application noting that the existing map was several years old and in need of replacement. It was considered that a Parish map was very useful.  In response to a question raised regarding the likely life span of the map, it was suggested that the parish Council should be advised to liaise with the Council Officers who might be able to provide information on weather resistant materials.

 

(2)       Grant Application – The Church of St Michael and All Angels, Abingdon

 

Councillor Alison Rooke had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she withdrew from the meeting during its consideration.

 

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

 

The Committee noted that the proposal would encourage a variety of community groups to use the facility. 

 

Members supported the application noting the proposal would benefit the community.  It was considered that it would be a well used facility in this part of Abingdon.  

 

Some Members considered that the grant sought was relatively small compared to the overall cost.  However, other Members considered that any grant awarded should be less than that sought.  It was commented that it was thought that this Church was less active in the community than other churches and that £8,000 was a large proportion of the total grants budget for this Committee for next year.

 

It was noted that the new facilities would hopefully enable the Church to be more active

 

One Member suggested that the applicant should be advised to seek a grant from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN).

 

It was considered that an informative should be added to the grant offer encouraging the applicant to apply to WREN for funding.  It was noted that to qualify for a grant under the WREN scheme, it would be necessary for the applicant to have 11% third party funding.  It was considered that the offer made by this authority might provide sufficient funding for this.  However, Members agreed to keep in mind that another application to meet any shortfall might be presented to a future meeting.

     

(3)               Grant Application – Abingdon and District Musical Society

 

Councillors Jim Halliday, Julie Mayhew Archer, Laurel Symons and Richard Webber had each declared a personal interest in this application and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration.

 

Further to the report, the Officers reported that balance for the Society for 2006/07 showed a deficit of £1,200.

 

Some Members expressed concern regarding the number of people that would benefit from the scheme.  However it was noted that people from across the Vale attended the event.

 

Some Members considered that in effect the grant would subsidise the cost and that perhaps the membership fee should be increased, together with the price of tickets or costs in hosting the event reduced, it being noted that the event incurred a loss year on year.  It was further suggested that the Society should consider fund raising and to this end, the Officer undertook to discuss this with the applicant.

 

However, it was noted that the Society hosted many concerts throughout the year and that this was an extra-ordinary event where quality performers were brought it at a higher cost.  It was commented that in underwriting the event, these performances had helped in raising standards of performing arts in the Vale.  It was commented that the amount sought was a small amount for a non sporting leisure pursuit.

 

(4)               Grant Application – Sutton Courtenay Cricket Club

 

Members supported the application but considered that the Cricket Club should be advised to seek grant funding from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN). 

 

(5)       Grant Application - Abingdon Band

 

Councillors Jim Halliday, Angela Lawrence, Julie Mayhew Archer, Alison Rooke and Laurel Symons had each declared a personal interest in this application and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration.

                                                                       

Members supported the application noting that the Band encouraged young people to take an interest in music.  Furthermore, it was noted that the Band undertook fund raising.  It was commented that the Band attracted a wide age range of players and was a very active group.

 

(6)       Principle of Awarding Parish Cleansing Grants

 

Councillor Richard Webber had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he withdrew from the meeting during its consideration.

 

Councillor Alison Rooke the Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item.

 

It was considered that if parishes felt that they wished to have a higher standard of parish cleansing then they should pay for it themselves by way of increasing their parish precepts.

 

It was noted that as the parishes had set their budgets for the next financial year, the award of such grants should be phased out over two years rather than immediately ceasing.

 

One Member referred to the Council’s Environmental Wardens who were available to give advice on how the community could keep their villages clean.  It was suggested that the Officers should advise the Parish Councils of the existence of the Wardens and the advice available.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Tony de Vere, seconded by Councillor Richard Gibson that the parishes be advised in writing as soon as possible that it was intended that grants for parish cleansing would cease next year in view of the reduced level of grant funding now available and likely in the future. 

 

By way of an amendment it was proposed by Councillor Jim Halliday, seconded by Councillor Alison Rooke that the parishes be advised in writing as soon as possible that it was intended that grants for parish cleansing would be phased out over the next two years in view of the reduced level of grant funding now available and likely in the future. 

 

On being put to the vote this was agreed by 5 votes to 4 with 2 abstentions with the Chair having exercised her casting vote and 1 of the voting Members not being present during consideration of this item.

 

On being put the Substantive Motion was agreed by 10 votes to nil, with 1 of the voting Members not being present during consideration of this item.

 

It was considered that the letter to be sent to parishes should be drafted in consultation with the Vice-Chair of the Committee with the local Members being kept informed.

 

(7)               Parish Cleansing Grant Application - Appleford Parish Council

 

It was considered that the Parish Council should be offered 75% of the grant sought in this case £600.

 

(8)               Parish Cleansing Grant Application - Drayton Parish Council

 

It was considered that the Parish Council should be offered 75% of the grant sought in this case £487.50.  

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)       that the Committee’s remaining budget for 2007/08 in the sum of £12,497.97 be noted;

 

(b)       that the grant applications received be determined as follows: -

 

Applicant	Reason for Grant	Agenda and Council Priority	Grant Awarded
Sutton Courtenay Parish Council	Towards the cost of a replacement map for the village.	Environmental Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority	£500 (Proposed by Councillor Richard Gibson, seconded by Councillor Alison Rooke and agreed by 10 votes to nil with 1 of the voting members not having yet arrived at the meeting).
The Church of St Michael & All Angels, Abingdon	Towards the cost of essential repairs to a listed building and redevelopment of the Community Room.	Environmental and Social Agendas, Town & Village Vitality priority	£6,000 with an informative encouraging the applicant to apply to WREN for funding. (Proposed by Councillor Angela Lawrence, seconded by Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer and agreed by 6 votes to 3 with 1 abstention and with 1 of the voting Member not being present during consideration of this item). Councillor Richard Gibson had proposed and Councillor Jim Halliday had seconded that a grant of £8,000 be offered.  However, this was lost by 5 – 4 – 2 with the Chair having exercised his casting vote and with 1 of the voting Member not being present during consideration of this item.
Abingdon & District Musical Society	Towards potential losses on a concert.	Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority	Up to £800 (Proposed by Councillor Jim Halliday, seconded by Councillor Alison Rooke and agreed by 8 votes to 3).
Sutton Courtenay Cricket Club	Towards the purchase of kit for young people on their Youth Development Programme.	Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority	£470 (Proposed by Councillor Richard Gibson, seconded by Councillor Paul Burton and agreed by 11 votes to nil)
Abingdon Band	Towards the purchase of instruments for use by new members.	Social Agenda, Town & Village Vitality priority	£1,000 (proposed by Councillor Richard Gibson, seconded by Councillor Angela Lawrence and agreed by 11 votes to nil)

 

(c)        that the Abingdon Area Committee’s budget for 2008/09 in the sum of £25,997 be noted;

 

(d)       that the Executive be asked to approve the carrying forward   

of any unspent grant budget from 2007/08 into 2008/09 in respect of the Abingdon Area Committee;

 

(e)               that the principle for awarding grants for additional parish cleansing be agreed as follows (agreed by 9 vote to 1 with 1 of the voting Members being absent during consideration of this item): -

 

(1)       that the parishes be advised in writing as soon as possible that it was intended that grants for parish cleansing would be phased out over the next two years in view of the reduced level of grant funding now available and likely in the future; and

 

(2)       that the letter to be sent to parishes should be drafted in consultation with the Vice-Chair of the Committee with the local Members being kept informed.

 

(f)                 that applications for additional parish cleansing grants in 2008/09 be determined as follows to be paid from the 2008/09 budget (proposed by Councillor Richard Gibson, seconded by Councillor Mary de Vere and agreed by 9 vote to 1 with 1 of the voting Members being absent during consideration of this item):

 

Applicant	Grant Awarded
Appleford Parish Council	£487.50
Drayton Parish Council	£600.00