Agenda and minutes

To elect a chair of the South East Area Committee for the remainder of the 2010/11 municipal year. 

RESOLVED

To elect Councillor Jenny Hannaby as Chair of the South East Area Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2010/11.

To elect a vice-chair of the South East Area Committee for the remainder of the 2010/11 municipal year. 

RESOLVED

To elect Councillor Terry Cox as Vice Chairman of the South East Area Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2010/11.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sue Marchant, John Morgan, Mike Murray and Joyce Hutchinson.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee meeting held on 13 October 2009 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13 October 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. 

Declarations of interest were received as follows:

To receive notification of any matters, which the chairman determines, should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances, which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman.

None.

Any statements, petitions and questions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting.

It was noted that 6 members of the public and members with personal and prejudicial interests had given notice that they wished to speak regarding applications for grants from the committee.

Jim Mitchell addressed the committee on behalf of the Wantage Betjemen Festival. He spoke in support of the organisation and described the events that would be undertaken during the festival.

Mark Roche made a statement in support of the application from Challow and Childrey Cricket Club, highlighting the current levels of involvement in the club and the need for new practice equipment to meet the demand from members.

Rosemary Packer made a statement to the committee in support of Court Hill Trust’s application. She highlighted the need for works to the roof of the building and advised the committee that the building was the responsibility of the district council, although run by a management committee.

Steve West addressed the committee on behalf of the Wantage and Grove Street Pastors. He advised the committee of the benefits of the service and requested a grant towards the recruitment and training of extra volunteers.

Councillor Richard Farrell made a statement to the committee in support of the application from Blewbury Village Hall Management Committee. He commented that the furniture to be purchased was not heavy duty due to cost and the issue of securing it in place. He advised that the furniture would be safely stored after use.

Councillor Julia Reynolds spoke in support of the Wantage Summer Festival, highlighting the events that were run during the festival and outlining the benefits to Wantage and the surrounding villages.

Councillor Terry Fraser spoke in support of the Court Hill Trust application, advising that he was concerned about the repair of the building. He advised that the facility was of great benefit to the Vale.

To consider report 123/10 of the head of corporate strategy. 

The committee considered report 123/10 of the head of corporate strategy, in conjunction with the statements from members of the public.

One member made the general comment that this new way of assessing community grants would take time to be understood by Members, and commented that he had found it difficult to understand the reasons behind some of the scores, other members agreed with this view.

RESOLVED

(a)    to note the budget for Community Grants in 2011/12 for the South East Area of the Vale

(b)    to allocate the following community grants as follows: