Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Abingdon Area Committee for the 2009/10 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Tony de Vere, seconded by Councillor Angela Lawrence and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer be elected Chair for the Abingdon Area Committee for the 2009/2010 Municipal Year.

Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer- Chair - In the Chair

To elect a Vice Chair of the Abingdon Area Committee for the 2009/10 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Angela Lawrence, seconded by Councillor Mary de Vere and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Beth Fleming be elected Vice-Chair of the Abingdon Area Committee for the 2009//2010 Municipal Year.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beth Fleming, Richard Gibson, Janet Morgan, Alison Rooke, Tim Smith and Laurel Symons.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 19 March 2009 (copy attached).

One Member recollected that there had been a discussion on the future of the Abingdon Area Forum and she questioned why this had not been recorded in the minutes. In response the Officers explained that consideration of this had not been on the agenda for the last meeting and the discussion which the Member recollected had taken place afterwards and therefore was not recorded as it was not part of the formal business of the Committee.  The Member commented that she was keen to see the Forum re-established and asked that at item be included on the agenda for the next meeting of this Committee to enable a discussion to take place regarding this matter.

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on the 19 March 2009 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. 

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 19/09 – 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.

The Chair reported that notice had been received from two members of the public who made each made a statement as follows: -

(1)       Abingdon Bridge

Mr Brown spoke in support of the application for grant funding toward the Abingdon Bridge which he explained was a Drug and Alcohol project providing education and support for young people in and around Abingdon.  He reported that one of the aims of the Bridge was to increase awareness of the risks involved with a view to reducing the number of young people drinking in public areas.  He commented that the Bridge provided support in relation to other issues such as housing and sexual health for young people. He stated that much of the projects’ work was outreach and that assistance was sought towards funding the short fall on charitable activities.  He explained that the Bridge undertook fund raising and received small grants from elsewhere and some donations but there was a shortfall and that approval of the grant application would allow the Bridge to continue without depleting reserves.

(2)       Abingdon Music Festival

Mr Hind made a statement in support of awarding a grant to the Abingdon Music Centre Education Trust. He commented that the Abingdon Music Centre had been established to make music widely available within the local community for both children and adults. He reported that the intention was to reach as many people as possible with activities being provided to varying age children. He explained that the Trust’s aim was to encourage musical ability. He cited the enormous work that had been done already and the strong links that had been established with Oxford Brookes University, leading to a post graduate musicians exchange. He explained that fees had been kept low and a 50% reduction had been put in place for parents who could not afford to pay. He explained that the award of the grant sought would enable the Trust to update the décor in the building and purchase some new instruments.

The Chair thanked the two speakers for their statements advising that they would be taken into account when Members considered the applications later in the meeting.

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

None.

To receive and consider report 19/09 of the Head of Corporate Strategy (attached).

The Committee received report 19/09 from the Strategic Director regarding Community Grants.

Each of the grant applications were considered with comments made as follows: -

(1)                The AbingdonBridge.

Councillors Samantha Bowring, Paul Burton, Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Gervase Duffield, Jim Halliday, Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan, Julie Mayhew Archer and Richard Webber had each declared a personal interest in this item.

Councillors Tony de Vere, Mary de Vere, Julie Mayhew Archer and Jim Halliday had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and they left the room during its consideration.

Councillor Angela Lawrence, Vice-Chair in the Chair for this application

One Member commented that the functions carried out by the Bridge were the responsibility of the County Council and questioned whether it was appropriate for this Committee to grant aid the Bridge.  He also referred to the financial position of the Bridge.  The officers explained that funding had been provided by the County Council but that this had been restricted.  In terms of the financial position of the Bridge it was explained that reserves had been drawn upon to fund a particular project.

Members supported the grant application this year in view of the positive benefit to the community although it was highlighted that in view of this Council’s reducing grant budget, the Committee might not be able to support a similar application to the same amount next year.

(2)                Abingdon Music Centre Foundation.

Councillors Samantha Bowring, Paul Burton, Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Gervase Duffield, Jim Halliday, Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan, Julie Mayhew Archer and Richard Webber had each declared a personal interest in this item.

One Member questioned whether the County Council provided similar teaching and covered its funding. He commented that musical tuition was a County Council function and should be financed by the County Council accordingly.  The Officers advised that they had approached the Oxfordshire Education Service regarding this and had been advised that small groups could not be financially supported.

One Member sought clarification on the funding in the long term.  It was considered that seeking advice from the applicant in this regard would be useful.  It was thereupon proposed by the Chair of the Committee and

RESOLVED

(a)       that the meeting of the Committee be adjourned for 5 minutes to enable Members to ask questions of members of the public.

The meeting adjourned at 7.40pm and reconvened at 7.45pm.

One Member commented on the excellent teaching provided by the Centre, expressing her support for the application.

However, another Member raised concern that the Centre did not attract pupils from low income families from deprived areas.  In this regard it was agreed that an informative be attached to the grant offer requesting that the Music Centre should make positive steps towards attracting pupils with potential rather than from parents who recognised the long terms benefits.

Members supported the application commenting that the Music Centre was a high quality music school.

(3)                Northcourt Centre

Councillors Mary de  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

None.