Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest. 

The Leader is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th January 2010 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th January 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

The Leader was advised that an agreement to loan the CCTV equipment had been drafted. 

The Leader APPROVED grant funding to the following voluntary organisations on a 3-year term:

The Corporate Manager, Community and Customer Services presented a report to present details of the applications received from the voluntary sector for grant funding for 2010 onwards, including:

a)      Requesting approval by the Leader of recommendations made regarding grants over £5,000; and

b)      Presenting for information only, Officer decisions regarding grants under £5,000 in accordance with current decision thresholds.

The Leader was advised that grants were made to Citizens Advice Bureaux in North Herts, Haverhill (Suffolk) and Uttlesford (Essex) as the client base for those organisations included residents of South Cambridgeshire District Council.  The Leader was further advised that no such reciprocal arrangements existed where the crossover was ‘in county’, for example SCDC residents using CAB services in St. Ives.

In reply to a question the Leader was advised that the amount shown, as ‘Grant Proposed 2010-11’ would be the amount paid for each of the next three years.  This was not a legal agreement and would be subject to the amount of funding available.  Variations could be made subject to the recipient organisation receiving three months notice. 

The Leader was further advised that each receiving organisation had received an offer of funding outlining these terms in the following words:

‘I am writing to inform you that your application to the above scheme was successful and that the Council has awarded NAME OF ORGANISATION £sum per annum in a three-year funding agreement (subject to the availability of grant funding in future years).‘

The Leader expressed concerns at the high level of funding for the Connections Bus Project, and questioned whether it was value for money.  He suggested that some of the monies might be made available for permanent youth facilities instead.   The Leader requested that he be informed of the funding streams that the project was tapping into.

Action: Gemma Barron

Following clarification of the scope and purpose of several of the organisations, the Leader APPROVED grant funding to the following voluntary organisations on a 3-year term:

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The plan will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the forward plan.

The following addition to the forward plan was noted:

13 May 2010

Add

·         LSP Progress Report  Paul Howes / Gemma Barron

The Leader is asked to note the date of the next meeting as Thursday 11 March 2010.

The Leader NOTED the date of the next meeting as Thursday 11 March 2010.