Agenda item

To receive and consider report 19/09 of the Head of Corporate Strategy (attached).

The Committee received report 19/09 from the Strategic Director regarding Community Grants.

Each of the grant applications were considered with comments made as follows: -

(1)                The AbingdonBridge.

Councillors Samantha Bowring, Paul Burton, Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Gervase Duffield, Jim Halliday, Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan, Julie Mayhew Archer and Richard Webber had each declared a personal interest in this item.

Councillors Tony de Vere, Mary de Vere, Julie Mayhew Archer and Jim Halliday had each declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and they left the room during its consideration.

Councillor Angela Lawrence, Vice-Chair in the Chair for this application

One Member commented that the functions carried out by the Bridge were the responsibility of the County Council and questioned whether it was appropriate for this Committee to grant aid the Bridge.  He also referred to the financial position of the Bridge.  The officers explained that funding had been provided by the County Council but that this had been restricted.  In terms of the financial position of the Bridge it was explained that reserves had been drawn upon to fund a particular project.

Members supported the grant application this year in view of the positive benefit to the community although it was highlighted that in view of this Council’s reducing grant budget, the Committee might not be able to support a similar application to the same amount next year.

(2)                Abingdon Music Centre Foundation.

Councillors Samantha Bowring, Paul Burton, Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Gervase Duffield, Jim Halliday, Angela Lawrence, Pat Lonergan, Julie Mayhew Archer and Richard Webber had each declared a personal interest in this item.

One Member questioned whether the County Council provided similar teaching and covered its funding. He commented that musical tuition was a County Council function and should be financed by the County Council accordingly.  The Officers advised that they had approached the Oxfordshire Education Service regarding this and had been advised that small groups could not be financially supported.

One Member sought clarification on the funding in the long term.  It was considered that seeking advice from the applicant in this regard would be useful.  It was thereupon proposed by the Chair of the Committee and

RESOLVED

(a)       that the meeting of the Committee be adjourned for 5 minutes to enable Members to ask questions of members of the public.

The meeting adjourned at 7.40pm and reconvened at 7.45pm.

One Member commented on the excellent teaching provided by the Centre, expressing her support for the application.

However, another Member raised concern that the Centre did not attract pupils from low income families from deprived areas.  In this regard it was agreed that an informative be attached to the grant offer requesting that the Music Centre should make positive steps towards attracting pupils with potential rather than from parents who recognised the long terms benefits.

Members supported the application commenting that the Music Centre was a high quality music school.

(3)                Northcourt Centre

Councillors Mary de Vere, Tony de Vere, Jim Halliday and Angela Lawrence had each declared a personal interest in this item.

Members supported this project noting the centre was well used by members of the public.

(4)                APAGE

Councillors Mary de Vere and Tony de Vere had each declared a personal interest in this item.

Members were asked to review the role of the arts in Abingdon and discuss future support for APAGE.

One Member commented that in making a grant application each year there was uncertainty for APAGE.  He commented on the grants awarded by the Committee towards arts group commenting on their luck and timing in submitting applications and suggested that instead the Committee should target funding to the major arts activities such as the Arts Festival where various groups and individuals could participate.  He commented that in giving money the APAGE, the Committee would be assured that funding would reach the maximum number of people.  He suggested that APAGE was an organisation with a proven track record of dealing with the arts and would be able to distribute the Committee’s grant funding in a more focussed way.

Members spoke against this suggestion commenting that Members of the Committee should determine applications for funding noting that all the applications supported were for worthy causes and there was a genuine need for help from this Committee.  Furthermore, it was commented that not all arts were represented by APAGE.

It was recognised that the APAGE would prefer regular funding and to this end it was considered that a service level agreement might be appropriate for a reasonable period of 3 years.  Members supported this but previous concerns raised regarding leaflet printing costs were highlighted.  Members sought a reassurance that the costs were as best they could be.

RESOLVED

(b)       that the budget position for the Abingdon Area Committee at the beginning of the financial year be noted;

(c)        that grant applications be determined as follows: -

(d)       that entering into a 3 year service level agreement with APAGE to provide funding of £3,000 per annum towards the Arts Festival be supported in principle, with the Officers being asked to meet with Malcolm Ross of APAGE to discuss terms and conditions (including assurances regarding leaflet printing) and that a report thereon be presented to the next meeting, (agreed by 10 votes to nil).