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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
(COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 19 JULY 2011
PRESENT: Mr B D Hurren – Vice-Chairman in the Chair
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Mr P D Burgoyne
Mr R E Kemp
Mr F R Lawrenson
Mrs A M Norman |
Mr J M Owen
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr D L Wood |
Mr J A B Long and Mr M Newman were unable to be present.
14 - Substitutes
15 - Declaration of Interests
16 - Appointment of Vice-Chairman for the meeting
17 - Minutes
18 - Petitions
19 - Questions from Members
20 - Review of Babergh's Community Grants Scheme 2010/11
21 - Work Plan
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr R E Kemp (substituting for Mr J A B Long).
The following Members declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No 20 below (Review of Babergh’s Community Grants Scheme 2010/11) in the capacity indicated but stated that their interests were such that they were able to speak and vote on the item:-
· Mr D L Wood by virtue of representing Suffolk County Council on the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB and Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project.
· Mr R E Kemp as Honorary President of Long Melford Cricket Club and by virtue of representing Suffolk County Council as an observer on Sudbury and District CAB.
· Mr J M Owen as Chairman of Helping Hands.
Mr B D Hurren, the Council’s representative on The Quay Board of Directors declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the relevant part of the item referred to in Minute No 20 below (Review of Babergh’s Community Grants Scheme 2010/11) in his capacity as a Director of The Quay and Chairman of the Board, and stated that he would not be present at the meeting for the discussion of recommendation 2.2 of Paper L51.
It was agreed to appoint Mr D L Wood as Vice-Chairman for the meeting.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
The Head of Community Development introduced Paper L51 which provided an overview of the activity funded during 2010/11. Members were advised that the Council's current criteria/policy for the allocation of grants would not continue beyond 2012/13. Proposals for the establishment of a joint Grants Policy with Mid Suffolk DC would be developed during the coming year following a review of both Councils’ grant policies. This review would address a wide range of issues including service integration and the requirements of the forthcoming Localism legislation. Consideration would be given at an appropriate stage to the involvement of Members as part of the review process.
Representatives from four organisations in receipt of Babergh funding during 2010/11 (as listed below) attended the meeting to speak on the work and operation of their respective organisations and respond to Members’ questions. The Chairman thanked the representatives for attending.
· Sudbury and District Citizens Advice Bureau – Ann Furlonger
· The Kernos Counselling Centre – Chris Boatwright
· The Quay Theatre – Nicki Murphy and Dennis Brogan
· Great Cornard Sports Centre – Dan Lawrence
Following the presentations, Members discussed various matters in relation to the information contained in Paper L51 and its Appendices, and as supplied by the speakers. Mr Hurren remained in the Chair for the general discussion on the review of the 2010/11 grant funding, and for the vote on recommendation 2.1 of Paper L51. He then vacated the Chair and Mr Wood chaired the meeting for the discussion and the vote on the suggestion in recommendation 2.2 of the report that the current Scheme be continued for 2012/13.
During the debate, a number of queries and issues were raised about the existing Scheme including the following:-
· Clearer definitions of the types of payments made under the Scheme would be useful – e.g. the current list includes grants, commissioning arrangements, partnership funding agreements and payment for services including those which are in fact statutory obligations.
· Tighter guidelines on grants made for activities which are the responsibility of other statutory agencies.
· The annual report to Members on the Grants Scheme should include more information on the operational details of the Scheme, the arrangements for securing matched funding and more precision about how the Grants Scheme ensures that the delivery of grant funded services meets the Council’s Strategic Plan Themes
· A quota system to achieve a balance between core funding and project funding needs to be considered
· The criteria and policy need to be flexible enough to reflect the changing circumstances of existing and potential grant recipients
· A policy for spreading grant funding more equally across the District needs to be considered.
It was agreed that all of these issues would be dealt with in the Grants Review,
RESOLVED
(1) That the review of the Community Grants Scheme 2010/11 as set out in Paper L51 be noted.
(2) That the proposals for the allocation of Community Revenue Grant funding in 2012/13 to be on the basis of the existing criteria/policy, as outlined in paragraph 8.4 of Paper L51, be noted. Further, that due consideration be given to the matters raised above as part of the review process leading to a joint Grants Policy as referred to in paragraph 8.11 of the report.
At this point, Mr Hurren returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that an updated Work Plan is being prepared which will take account of the revised Timetable of Meetings approved by the Council at its meeting on 27 June 2011.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
Note: The meeting adjourned for refreshments between 11.45 a.m. and 12 noon.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.05 p.m.
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Chairman
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