Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were recorded from Councillors Andrew Crawford, John Dunsdon, Jenny Hannaby, David Philips, Richard Stone and Pam Westwood.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting of the Committee South East Area Committee held on 12 September 2006, (previously circulated with the Council Summons dated 18 October 2006). 

The Minutes of the meeting of the South East Area Committee held on 12 September 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.

Councillor Jim Moley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in report 166/06 in so far as it related to a grant application from the Wantage Summer Festival for which he was an Officer (Minute SE.26 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.

The Chair reported that in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 and Standing Order 21(4) he had agreed to an item of urgent business, namely to consider grant applications from the Blewbury Players, Blewbury and from St Mary the Virgin Church, Childrey.  The Chair reported that he had agreed to accept this as an item of urgent business in view of the requirement for a grant award being needed before the next meeting of the Committee, (Minute SE.27 refers).

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 166/06 of the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer. 

Councillor Jim Moley had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the grant application in respect of the Wantage Summer Festival and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of that part of the report.

The Committee received and considered report 166/06 of the Strategic Director which set out the new process for delegating the determination of grants; set out the budget position for this Committee in respect of Community Grants in 2006/07 and in 2007/08 and invited the Committee to consider and determine the grant applications received since the last meeting and to agree a principle for awarding grants for additional parish cleansing.

The report was considered in detail and the following comments made: -

Grants Determined Under Delegated Authority

It was reported that a grant had been made to the Blewbury Woman’s Institute in the sum of £200 towards a sound amplification system.  Furthermore, a grant had been made to the Wantage Choral Society towards a one-off training choir for the public in the sum of £450, with a condition that Wantage Town Council and other Parish Council’s benefiting be requested to make a contribution.  It was suggested that a total contribution of £100 might be appropriate.

East Challow Parish Council – Safety Surfacing of Play Area

It was explained that the Parish Council would be funding £1,760 plus the shortfall.  It was noted that this third party funding could be as high as £5,000.  One Member asked that it be placed on record that funding should be sought from S106 development obligations towards maintenance of play areas

Lyford Manor Farm - Willow Pollarding

One Member commented that the Council had always supported grant awards for tree pollarding in recognition of the importance of willow trees to the environment and it being noted that without the grant assistance in many cases the works required would not take place resulting in the loss of the trees.  It was noted in this case the trees could be seen from the public footpath.

One Member considered that the Committee should not be awarding a grant to a private individual.  However, other Members supported awarding a grant and considered that 10% of the cost would be reasonable in this case.  It was commented that in making these grants the Council was helping to protect the traditional and beautiful aspects of the landscape which were of public benefit.

Wantage Summer Festival

One Member expressed concern regarding the timing of the application in terms of the need to award any grant from the next year’s budget.  However, the Officers commented that due to the timing of the Festival it would not be possible to consider an application in the next financial year.  It was noted that it was not possible to award a grant from this year’s budget as the Festival had already had a grant award in this financial year.

RESOLVED

(a)        that it be noted that the process for delegating the determination of community grants  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

As referred to elsewhere in these Minutes, the Chair reminded the Committee that he had agreed to the consideration of this item as a matter of urgent business.

The Committee received and considered two grant applications details of which were circulated at the meeting.  The applications were discussed and the following comments made: -

Blewbury Players  - New Storage Facility

One Member suggested that a contribution from the Parish Council should be sought, although it was noted that the Parish Council had considered this applications and had made a grant award some time ago.

St Mary the Virgin Church - Major lead work and minor carpentry repairs

One Member commented that there was no reference to the community use of the Church. In response, the Chair advised Members that the scheme was aimed at improving the visual appearance for the public’s enjoyment and benefit. 

Members supported the application.

RESOLVED

that the grant applications received be determined as follows: -

None.