Agenda item

To receive and consider report 252/05 of the Strategic Director. 

(Councillors Eddy Goldsmith, Jenny Hannaby, Jim Moley and Derek Verdin all declared personal interests in this item regarding the application from the Wantage War Memorial Committee and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration.  Councillor Moley also declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the application from Wantage Summer Festival 2006 and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he left the meeting during its consideration.  Councillor Margaret Turner declared a personal interest in the application by Harwell Parish Council and in accordance with Standing Order 34 she remained in the meeting during its consideration.)

The Committee received and considered report 252/05 of the Strategic Director, setting out details of three community grant applications and bids for Parish cleaning.  Members noted that the Committee's remaining budget for 2005/06 was £7,689.88.  The Committee considered the applications before it.  It was agreed that any grant towards the Wantage Summer Festival should be funded from the Committee's 2006/07 budget, as funds had already been committed from the current year's budget for the 2005 festival. 

With regard to Parish Cleansing Grants, it was noted that the applications were for 2006/07.  Members discussed how the grants should be awarded and whether any limitations should be placed upon them.  The Committee considered that a level of grant should be awarded but at an hourly rate of £6.  Members also considered that grants should be limited to 40% of the total cost. 

Members noted that the report contained an application from Appleford Parish Council.  This was removed from the agenda as Appleford was in the Abingdon Area.  However, a new application was introduced, received from Chilton Parish Council, seeking a grant of £332.50 representing a proportion of the area of the parish cleaning that fell within the scheme's criteria.  The total cost of the cleaning in Chilton was £350. 

RESOLVED

(a)        Members are asked to note that the Committee’s remaining budget for 2005/06 is £7,689.88;

(b)               that the following community grant application be approved from the 2005/06 budget:

(c)        that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Committee Chairman to approve the following community grant application from the 2005/06 budget:

(d)        that it be noted that the Committee's budget for 2006/07 is £25,084, based on the percentage of the electorate in the South East Area at 1 January 2006;

(e)        that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Committee Chairman to approve the following community grant application from the 2006/07 budget:

(f)         that the following Parish Cleansing Grant applications be approved from the 2006/07 budget:

(g)        that the Parish Cleansing Grant application from Childrey Parish Council be refused as it does not fall within the grants criteria;

(h)        that it be noted that additional guidance for grants supporting historic buildings, work on trees, countryside conservation and parish cleansing is in preparation and Members' comments on the draft are welcome; and

(i)         that a draft prospectus of the Committee’s priorities for grant assistance be prepared for discussion at the next meeting to assist in clarifying how local criteria should be set.