Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2017 as a correct record.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder signed, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2017.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder agreed the following:

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder refused the following application:

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder considered applications for funding from the Community Chest fund.

He noted that £7,286.12 remained unallocated in the budget.       

Officers reported that the application from CamCare UK related to Cambourne and surrounding villages. If the sum applied for was to be paid in full, it would exceed the sum of £3,000 permitted by the Community Chest scheme for each parish. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged this but agreed to meet the funding request in full, subject to all other formal requirements being in order.

In respect of the applications from the Friends of Histon & Impington Recreation, and Duxford Parochial Church Council, the Portfolio Holder requested that officers use their best endeavours to make sure that the financial involvement of South Cambridgeshire District Council be publicised.

The Portfolio Holder noted that the total sum of £5,700 had been allocated at this meeting. Officers reported that funding of the Cambourne Church / Children’s Centre for 2017-18 (£4,000) would be vired to the Community Chest (Minute 4 refers).This resulted in £5,586.12 being available in the Community Chest for the remainder of 2017-18.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder agreed the following:

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder refused the following application:

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder

(a)             noted the current delivery of all grant programmes within the scope of the report from the Director of Health and Environmental Services, highlighting concerns for further investigation or action;

(b)             requested the return of funding from the Cambourne Church / Children’s Centre for 2017-18 only, and agreed to reallocate that sum (for 2017-18 only) to the Community Chest; and

(c)             agreed to include the Community Housing Fund and the Community Energy Fund in future grant reports.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder considered a report examining the delivery of grant programmes funded by the Council during quarters 1 and 2 of 2017-18.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder considered a report examining the delivery of grant programmes funded by the Council during quarters 1 and 2 of 2017-18.

He invited Rachel Talbot, Chief Executive of the Cambridge & District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to summarise the role of the CAB network, both locally and nationally. Ms Talbot observed how useful it was that South Cambridgeshire District Council recognised that people cross borders. The Portfolio Holder made it clear that the Council faced budgetary pressures, but was keen to continue working with CABx, while avoiding unnecessary duplication. Two possibilities for joint working were in the areas of benefits and homelessness and, while the Portfolio Holder was not able to make any commitment at this meeting, he undertook to investigate further with the relevant officers.

The Portfolio Holder and officers considered in detail each of the grant programmes contained in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder

(a)             noted the current delivery of all grant programmes within the scope of the report from the Director of Health and Environmental Services, highlighting concerns for further investigation or action;

(b)             requested the return of funding from the Cambourne Church / Children’s Centre for 2017-18 only, and agreed to reallocate that sum (for 2017-18 only) to the Community Chest; and

(c)             agreed to include the Community Housing Fund and the Community Energy Fund in future grant reports.

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Work Programme 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 Programme will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the Work Programme.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder noted the Work Programme attached to the agenda. To this he added the following:

·        Community Energy Fund – each Full-business and Grants meeting from April 2018 onwards

·        Grants to Voluntary Sector – June 2018

The next meeting (Grants only) has been scheduled for Tuesday 16 January 2018, starting at 6pm.

The next Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder meeting would take place on Tuesday 16 January 2018 at 6.00pm, but only if there was sufficient business to justify it.