Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Elsa Boyce and Richard Farrell. 

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 July 2005, (previously circulated with the Council Summons dated 19 October 2005). 

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 July 2005 were signed and adopted 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.

Councillors Terry Fraser and Jenny Hannaby both declared personal interests in item 7 - Community Grants - in relation to a grant awarded to the Wantage Branch of the Royal Naval Association (minute SE.15 refers).  Steve Culliford declared an interest in item 7 - Community Grants - in relation to the application form Harwell Primary School (minute SE.15 refers). 

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

None

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

None

To receive and consider report 205/05 of the Strategic Director. 

(Councillors Terry Fraser and Jenny Hannaby both declared personal interests in the grant awarded to the Wantage Branch of the Royal Naval Association and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration.  Steve Culliford, Democratic Services Officer, declared a personal interest in the application by Harwell Primary School and in accordance with Standing Order 35 he remained in the meeting during its consideration.) 

The Committee received and considered report 205/05 of the Strategic Director which set out the Community Grants budget position for the Area Committee and set out details of two grant applications received since the last meeting.  Firstly, Members noted that eight grants totaling £2,035.57 had been awarded under delegated authority.  Members noted that £13,439.88 remained in the budget. 

At its last meeting the Committee resolved that in 2005/06, no grants should be awarded for re-thatching historic buildings as the grant would only benefit the owner, not the whole community.  This decision had been taken with regret, due to the reduction in the Committee's budget.  The Committee's decision only applied to the current financial year and could be reversed in 2006/07, depending on the level of budget awarded to the Committee.  Since that meeting, the owners of a historic building had approached the Council for a grant towards re-roofing a barn/garage within the curtilage of their property.  However, the roof was tiled, not thatched.  Following consultation with the Chairman, an e-mail was sent to all Committee Members seeking a view whether the decision should relate to other materials.  The outcome was a narrow majority in favour of not giving grants to owners of historic buildings, whatever material was used.  However, as there was such a narrow majority, the Chairman had asked for this matter to be brought back to the Committee for consideration.  The Committee was also asked for its view on grants for historic buildings that had some community use. 

Members considered that the decision taken at the last meeting should be broadened to relate to all personal grant applications under the historic buildings scheme.  It was proposed by the Chairman, CouncillorTerry Cox, and seconded by Councillor Eddy Goldsmith that in the current financial year (2005/06), no personal grant applications would be considered for works to historic buildings, whatever works were required or materials to be used.  However, the Committee considered that it might use discretion to consider applications where the building had community use.  The Committee supported this view.  Following this decision, the Committee agreed that the personal application from the owner of the Corner House, Allin's Lane, East Hendred, should not be considered in the current financial year. 

The Committee then gave careful consideration to two applications for Community Grants.  In both cases, Members considered that there should be Parish Council support. 

The application by HarwellPrimary School caused some debate.  Concerns were expressed that this was a County Council function and therefore should be funded from that source.  Other views were expressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

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