Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Councillor Louise Brown attended the meeting as a member of the public and Chair of the community group ‘F.A.R.U.P’ to speak on behalf of the application they had made for repainting areas of Lanark Walk.  She explained the current position with regard to obtaining estimates for the work and of the concern that there was at delays that would be caused if the necessary finance was not approved at this meeting. 

That approval be given for the following Community Grants to be awarded/declined/deferred as indicated:

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The Cabinet Member for Strategic Communities considered the award of Community Grants to voluntary and community organisations.  Applications had been made in this the first round of grants for 2013/14 and were recommended to be awarded, declined or deferred following an assessment against previously approved criteria.

In each case the report detailed the total cost of each project, the amount of grant requested and the recommended award along with certain other notes of explanation.  It was noted that the demand for grants had been exceptionally high and the grants awarded had to reflect the number being considered.  In considering the grant application from F.A.R.U.P the Cabinet Member agreed that there would be difficulties if the grant was not approved in this round of applications; he agreed, therefore, that approval be given to the full amount requested bearing in mind that the balance of the award would not be paid until the repainting work had been completed.

RESOLVED

That the Community Grants be awarded, declined or deferred, as indicated in the report, with the exception of that for F.A.R.U.P which was to be increased to £1095 this being the full amount requested.

1.    That approval be given to adopt the amended policy for the allocation of Community Grants.

2.    That approval be given to adopt the amended policy for the allocation of Funding to Infrastructure Organisations.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Communities considered amendments to the Policy for the allocation of Community Grants; the changes would enable grant applications for 2013/14 to be funded within existing budget provision. 

Funding was awarded to infrastructure organisations that provided support to the voluntary, community and faith sectors, and to local councils in the Borough.  It was noted that the Partnerships team worked closely with such organisations and that the purpose of the funding was to increase their capacity and capability across the Borough.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to adopt the amended policy for the allocation of Community Grants.

2.    That approval be given to adopt the amended policy for the allocation of Funding to Infrastructure Organisations.