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.

Councillor Glen Williams declared a personal interest by virtue of being Chairman of Bromley Farm Community Development Trust which was one of the applications being considered.

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 relevant 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.

Sarah Flannary spoke on behalf of Knutsford Promenade Association.  Further information had been sought about the Heritage Open Day Scheme and she provided a detailed account of that scheme and of the involvement planned with it by the Promenades Association; this included securing the opening of historic buildings in the locality, meetings with and the keen support of the PR team associated with the Heritage Open Day Scheme, other sponsorships and a resume of the proposed events.

To consider the allocation of community grants in the first round of grants for 2016/17.

That the Community Grants listed on the decision sheet be awarded, declined or deferred as indicated.

It was reported that Cabinet has approved and Cheshire East Council has put in place a Policy for the Allocation of Grants to Voluntary and Community Organisations for 2015/16.  This Policy deals with the allocation of community grants which are awarded to defined Organisations following an application process and against set criteria.  There are conditions requiring that Organisations report back to the Council upon expenditure of the grant and to enable further appropriate conditions to be imposed.  The decision making process was delegated to the Portfolio Holder in order ensure that decisions can be made expeditiously and at the appropriate level.

The grants considered had been submitted in the first round of grants for 2016/17 and could all be funded from within existing budgets approved as part of the Council’s Budget for 2016/17. 

In the light of the information provided at the meeting in respect of Knutsford Promenades Association the Cabinet Member said he was content for the grant of £1,000 to be awarded.

In addition to the grants detailed in the report an additional sheet was circulated at the meeting which detailed the present position on five applications deferred at the last allocation meeting on 1 February 2016.  In the light of information received since the last meeting the applications were awarded as indicated and those decisions added to the decision sheet.

RESOLVED

That the Community Grants listed on the decision sheet be awarded, declined or deferred as indicated.