Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Julie Mayhew-Archer, seconded by Councillor Laurel Symons and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Jim Halliday be elected Chair of the Committee for the 2006/07 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Mary de Vere, seconded by Councillor Peter Green and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Richard Webber be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee for the 2006/07 Municipal Year.

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jim Halliday.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 28 March 2006, (previously circulated with the Council Summons dated 17 May 2006). 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 March 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 interest in report 32/06 – 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.

Mr C Trinder – Peachcroft Christian Centre

(Councillor Alison Rooke left the meeting during this item).

Mr Trinder made a statement in support of the application for grant aid in respect of the Peachcroft Christian Centre.  He advised of progress with the building works and acknowledged the generous financial support previously given by the Council towards the project.  In speaking to the application, Mr Trinder clarified the position in respect of the project costs and loans taken out to cover some of those costs.  The total cost of the project was £625,000 and just under £600,000 had been raised or promised at the present time.  The reason for the grant request was that all other external sources for funding had now been exhausted and the Area Committee, following a presentation by the Centre in 2005, had indicated that it was minded to support the project to the £50,000 originally requested.  However, due to financial constraints the Council, through the Area Committee and Executive had provided £25,000 in 2005/06 towards the project.  The current application sought a further £25,000 to complete the project.

The Chair thanked Mr Trinder for his statement, the contents of which would be taken into account later in the meeting when the application was considered (Minute Ab.12 refers).

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

None.

To receive a presentation from Chief Inspector David Purnell, Thames Valley Police on Neighbourhood Action Groups.

The Committee received a presentation from Chief Inspector David Purnell on Neighbourhood Policing, a national initiative with the ethos of working with local communities and communicating to all residents.  In the Vale area seven Neighbourhood Action Groups had been established, covering the whole of the Vale District of which two were currently live (Drayton/Steventon and South Abingdon and Milton Park and surrounding villages).  This initiative would be publicised through public meetings and surveys.  The Vale currently had nine Community Support Police Officers (CSPO), financed through Partnership funding and four fully funded by the Thames Valley Police Authority.  These Officers would provide a visible presence in the community.  It was hoped that by 2008, 600 CSPO’s would be on duty throughout the Thames Valley, funded directly by Central Government and through local authorities.

At the present time South Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire District Councils and Oxford City Council provided funding towards CSPO’s and the Chief Inspector undertook to provide details of the level of financial support from each authority.  Chief Inspector Purnell stressed the important role that local Councillors could play in supporting the Police and their local Neighbourhood Action Group.

The Chair thanked Chief Inspector Purnell for his presentation.

To receive a presentation from Liz Morgan, Extended Schools Co-ordinator, Abingdon on Extended Schools.

The Committee received a presentation from Liz Morgan, Extended School’s Co-ordinator, Abingdon on the Extended Schools initiative.  Extended schools would provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.  The core services were as follows:-

• High quality childcare available from 8.00am – 6.00pm all year round
• A varied menu of activities, such as homework clubs
• Parenting support, including family learning sessions
• Swift and easy referral to a wide range of specialist services
• Wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities, including Adult Learning.

The Abingdon Partnership comprised 27 schools (3 secondary, 1 special school and 23 primary).  An audit of all school activity had been undertaken, an audit of what was in the community had been started, a development plan for the partnership had been developed and a multi agency group had been set up to support the Partnership.  Plans for the future included:-

• More collaborative work eg breakfast clubs
• Building up a multi agency group to progress the plans
• Work with the Governors of the schools
• Holiday schemes.

In respect of the cost of participation in holiday schemes, it was noted that Headteachers had discretion to offer free places to those families who could not otherwise afford to participate.  Consideration was also being given to providing grant assistance towards the cost.  At present after school clubs were free and the Partnership was keen that this continued.  Furthermore the Partnership would be producing a marketing brochure which would list the facilities and schemes available as part of the programme.  In respect of adult learning, it was noted that Abingdon and Witney College was reducing the number of adult learning schemes it provided and increasing the fees for those schemes still in place.  The Partnership was working with the College, Oxfordshire Adult Learning Scheme and other providers to try and expand adult learning provision.

The Chair thanked Liz Morgan for her presentation.

RESOLVED

that the presentation be received.

To receive and consider report 33/06 of the Strategic Director (attached)

Introduction & Report Summary

At its meeting on 28th March the Abingdon Area Committee resolved that an item be included on the agenda for the next meeting asking the Committee to consider community leadership.

This report provides information about community leadership. Information for this report has primarily come from 'The neighbourhood agenda and the role of the elected member' by Jane Foot and Ines Newman (available from the Improvement & Development Agency website www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk) and 'Community Leadership - Learning from Comprehensive Performance Assessment' (available from the Audit Commission website www.audit-commission.gov.uk)

The contact officer for this report is Toby Warren, Head of Innovation & Enterprise (Tel: 01235 547695).

Recommendation

Members are requested to note the information in this report.

The Committee received and considered report 33/06 of the Strategic Director, which provided information on community leadership, which had been requested by the Committee at its last meeting.

RESOLVED

that report 33/06 be received.

To receive and consider report 32/06 of the Strategic Director (attached)

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to set out the budget position for the Abingdon Area Committee for Community Grants in 2006/07 and to invite Members to consider and determine the grant application received.

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 budget for 2006/07 is £35,975.48 (£28,220+ £7,755.48 carried forward from 2005/06), apportioned as follows:

o        Environmental Agenda  (35%)                       £9,877

o        Social Agenda  (35%)                                     £9,877

o        Economic Agenda (10%)                               £2,822

o        Discretionary (20%)                                        £5,644 + 7,755.48

but that grants totaling £915 have already been allocated and grants of £3,000 are earmarked for twinning, leaving a budget of £32,060.48 for the rest of 2006/07

(b)        Following the resolution by the Executive on 21 April, Members are asked to consider the following application and are encouraged to fund the amount requested:

(i)         Abingdon and District Citizens Advice Bureau, £2,565, to cover the remainder of the shortfall in core funding, Social Agenda, Access priority

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

(ii)                Preston Road Community Centre Association, £6,385, to include £1,650 as third party funding for WREN application and the remainder to cover the shortfall in funding from other sources, Social Agenda, Access and Town & Village Vitality priorities.

(iii)               AbingdonMuseum, £3,850, towards a development plan for the museum, Social Agenda, Access and Town & Village Vitality priorities.

(iv)              (iv)       Peachcroft Christian Centre, £25,000, towards the shortfall in funding for the extension of the Centre, Social Agenda, Access and Town & Village Vitality priorities.

The Committee received and considered report 32/06 of the Strategic Director which set out the current budget position for the Abingdon Area Committee for Community Grants in 2006/07 and invited Members to consider and determine those grant applications received since the last meeting.

The report was considered as follows:-

(1)               Abingdon and District Citizens Advice Bureau

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

(Councillor Peter Green had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he withdrew from the meeting during its consideration).

It was reported that parish support had increased to £10,355 against a projected income figure of £10,665.  Some Members expressed concern that the Committee was being asked to provide financial support towards core funding and that the community grants budget should be used to support new projects.  It was noted that Members of the Executive had visited the CAB to gain a better understanding of the issues facing the Bureau and the work undertaken.

(2)               Preston Road Community Centre Association

(Councillors Mary de Vere and Tony de Vere had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they left the meeting during its consideration).

It was reported that the Association’s balances as at 30 April 2006 were £3,205.77.  Awards for All had awarded a grant of £4,225 and Abingdon Town Council had awarded up to £800 towards a fridge freezer.  The Committee noted that the Centre was located in an area with high levels of deprivation and social exclusion.

(3)               Abingdon Museum

(Councillors Mike Badcock and Tony de Vere had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration).

(Councillors Peter Green, Monica Lovatt, Julie Mayhew-Archer and Alison Rooke had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they withdrew from the meeting during its consideration)

Some Members expressed surprise at the cost of the proposed research and consultancy fees, although it was recognised that the Museum building was unique in terms of design and any works to improve the access would need to be approved by English Heritage.  The Committee expressed disappointment at the level of financial contribution from Oxfordshire County Council.  The Council’s Community Strategy Officer confirmed the level of grant sought by the applicant.

(4)               Peachcroft Christian Centre

(Councillor Mary de Vere had declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she remained in the meeting for consideration).

(Councillors Alison Rooke and Roz Smith had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they withdrew from the meeting during its consideration).

It was noted that the applicant had not applied to Awards for All for financial support.  It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive and consider report 34/06 of the Strategic Director (attached).

Introduction & Report Summary

At its meeting on 28th March the Abingdon Area Committee resolved that the Head of Innovation & Enterprise should be delegated to revise the draft prospectus based on the comments made at that meeting. The overall aim being to make the prospectus more 'user friendly'

This report provides information about the revised draft. The appendix consists of a copy of the revised draft prospectus. This information will assist the Committee in finalising the prospectus.

The contact officer for this report is Toby Warren, Head of Innovation & Enterprise (Tel: 01235 547695).

Recommendations

(a)        Members are requested to determine the final content of the prospectus.

(b)        Members are requested to determine the need to convene an Abingdon Area Forum meeting in order to facilitate public consultation on the content of the prospectus.

The Committee received and considered report 34/06 of the Strategic Director detailing a draft prospectus which would be used to target grant awards.

The Head of Innovation and Enterprise reported that two of the Area Committee’s, which had already met during the current committee cycle, had agreed that grants towards historic buildings would only be made in respect of those buildings that provided a community use.

The Committee generally supported this stance and considered that the Council should be consistent in its consideration of historic building grants.  However, some Members stressed the importance of preserving the heritage of the District and that each application should be considered on its merits.  It was noted that the Executive would be considering all Area Committee prospectuses to ensure that there was a degree of consistency in the awarding of grants across the priority areas.

One Member referred to the Town and Village Vitality strand of the Vale Community Strategy and the priority regarding support for improvements to community centre and village halls.  In this regard, he suggested that such financial support should be subject to the applicant being able to demonstrate that the project was sustainable.

Finally, the Committee welcomed the publication of the prospectus and emphasised the need for it to be made public as soon as possible and not subject to public consultation on its content with the Area Forum.  The Committee’s attention was drawn to the request by the Chair of the Executive that all Area Committee prospectuses be submitted to the Executive.  It was reiterated that the Chair of the Executive wished to ensure that whilst prospectuses reflected local priorities they retained a degree of consistency.  It was suggested that a meeting of the Area Forum should be held in March 2007 to receive feedback on the effectiveness of the prospectus.

By 12 vote to 1 it was

RESOLVED

(a)               that the Abingdon Area Committee’s prospectus for community grants in 2006/07 be approved, as appended to these Minutes; and

(b)        that a meeting of Abingdon Area Forum be held in March 2007 to receive feedback on the effectiveness of the prospectus.

None.