Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Pat Lonergan, seconded by Councillor Tony de Vere and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Angela Lawrence be elected Chair of the Abingdon Area Committee for the remainder of the 2008-2009 Municipal Year.

Councillor Angela Lawrence – In the Chair

It was proposed by Councillor Alison Rooke, seconded by Councillor Richard Webber and

RESOLVED

that Councillor Beth Fleming be elected Vice-Chair of the Abingdon Area Committee for the remainder of the 2008-2009 Municipal Year.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were recorded from Councillors Sam Bowring, Paul Burton, Richard Gibson, Janet Morgan and Laurel Symons.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Section I Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee Abingdon Area Committee held on 25 March 2008 (previously circulated with the Council Summons dated 21 May 2008). 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Abingdon Area Committee held on 25 March 2008 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.

Members declared interests in report 112/08 – Community Grants (minute Ab.33 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.

None.

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

Notice had been given of five statements from members of the public which were made as follows: -

1.         Rita Atkinson on behalf of the DAMASCUS Project

Rita Atkinson, joined by 5 members of the project made a statement setting out examples of the work of the project such as building a sun dial at a Millennium Green, confidence building with young people and support given.  The Committee was asked to support the grant application presented. 

2.         Reverend Peter Bennett on behalf of the Compass Cafe

Reverend Bennett asked the Committee to support the grant application made in respect of Compass Café explaining that the initiative benefited young people.  He reported that funds were needed to finance a centre based youth worker.  He explained that there were volunteers at the café and that it was a safe place for young people to go, where they were welcomed and supported by adults.   He reported that the work of the café was well co-ordinated but that the employment of a youth worker would significantly benefit the young people.  Finally he commented on the benefits of the project giving details of how young people can improve their confidence.

3.         Malcolm Ross on behalf of APAGE

Mr Ross thanked the Committee for the grant awards in previous years and asked Members to be supportive again this year.  He reported that the main aim of the festival was to introduce arts to as many people as possible in the Vale and that the leaflet produced would be circulated in Abingdon and the surrounding areas.  He reported that funding was needed towards printing and distribution of leaflets.  He commented that he believed that the brochure this year would be bigger and better encouraging more people to attend.

4.         Mavis Gotch on behalf of Appleford Village Hall Committee

Mrs Gotch reported that she was the administrator of the hall.  She reported that the Parish Council had extended and refurbished the village hall but funding was required towards curtains, furniture and some smaller items.  She commented that the hall was used regularly by many organisations.

5.         Roger Wilkinson on behalf of Abingdon Concert Band

Mr Wilkinson commented on the membership of the band explaining that new players were sought and that events had been held in some 150 venues.  He reported that there was usually a good attendance at events.  He commented that the Band was reliant on donations and grants and that the funding sought now was towards new contemporary music which would hopefully improve the appeal of the band.

The Chair thanked everyone for their statements.

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

None.

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to set out the current budget position 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 the current budget position for the Abingdon Area Committee

(b)         that Members agree to the payment of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) grant to AbingdonTown Council and the Drayton Twinning Society, subject to the required monitoring information having been received

(c)         that Members consider and determine the grant applications, the agenda and the Council priority in respect of the applications listed in the report.

The Committee received and considered report 112/08 – Community Grants and detailed comments were made as set out below.  In considering the application, Members took into account the statements made by members of the public earlier in the meeting.  Those applications were considered first.

One Member commented that in view of the limited finances available consideration of the applications referred to the Committee by the Executive for additional funding should be deferred and this was supported by the Committee.  It was also suggested that only 50% of the Committee’s budget should be awarded at this meeting with each grant application being reduced proportionately so that 50% of the budget would be available for the last meeting of the financial year, in March 2009.  However this was not supported it being considered that each application should be considered on its merits and a grant awarded accordingly.

Abingdon Town Council – Service Level Agreement

Councillors Pat Lonergan, Angela Lawrence, Alison Rooke, Julie Mayhew Archer and Jim Halliday had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application and they left the meeting during its consideration.

Councillor Beth Fleming the Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item.

Members supported the grant subject to the appropriate monitoring information being received.  It was suggested that a report back on this to Members of the Committee would be useful.

Drayton Twinning Society – Service Level Agreement

Councillors Richard Webber had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application and he left the meeting during its consideration.

Members supported the grant subject to the appropriate monitoring information being received.

(i)         DAMASCUS Youth Project

Councillors Richard Webber and Julie Mayhew Archer had each declared a personal interest in this application.

One Member referred to the “Chill Out” fund held by the County Council suggesting that this was a project which might receive grant assistance from that fund.  It was commented that the County Council had primary responsibility for youth activities and that funding should be sought from the “Chill Out” fund.

It was commented that the funding was required now for the project and that it would not be possible to defer consideration of the application to the next meeting in March which would be too late.  One Member suggested that there should be evidence of local support for the project and that a provisional grant should be awarded payable if a grant application to the County Council was unsuccessful.

However, other Members considered that an initial grant should be offered with a further amount should a grant request to the County Council be unsuccessful.

On consideration of this application, Members commented that feedback on the “Chill Out” fund would be of interest and use to Members and should be reported in the Members’ Information and Action Sheet.  It was commented that it was hoped that the County Council would show a commitment to youth activities by supporting this and other projects in this area.

One Member commented that DAMASCUS should approach the County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

None.