Agenda and minutes

There were no Apologies for Absence.

With respect to Minute 5, Councillor Peter Sandford declared that two of the parishes (Boxworth and Gravely) that would benefit from the proposed amendments to the Community Chest Grant Guidance were in his ward.

To authorise the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 01 December 2023 as a correct record.

By affirmation, the Committee authorised the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2023 as a correct record.

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There were no public questions.

The Development Officer (Communities Team) presented the report and advised the Committee that there was an error in the report and that the total sum applied for in the month was £2,531. The Committee reviewed the applications to the Community Chest Grant funding scheme received between 7 November 2023 and 7 January 2024. After consideration of the applications, the Committee recommended that the application from:

·       St Nicholas Chruch Parochial Church Council (XCWDGBKB) be approved and awarded the full amount requested of £2,000. Councillor Bill Handley abstained from the decision.

-        In response to a question from Members, officers advised that funding could be given to a church in this instance as the application was for a benefit to the wider community. Members commented that it was disappointing that the church was seeking to purchase a petrol mower but, given that the application was for storage rather than the mower, the Committee agreed to fund the application. Members requested that feedback to the applicant be given, informing them that Members were disappointed with the intent to purchase a petrol mower given electric options were likely available.

Councillor John Williams joined the meeting as Lead Cabinet Member for Resources

·       Litlington Parish Council (SFVRDFRZ) be approved and awarded the full amount requested of £531.

The Committee considered the proposed amendment to the Community Chest Grant Guidance to allow for parishes with an electorate of up to 200 plus a 10% increase (if Members agree that the application shows good cause) to make an application from the non-ring-fenced grant fund. Members commented that it was sensible to increase the scope of the fund given the fact the fund was not running low at the end of the financial year. The Committee agreed that the amendment was appropriate, and Councillor John Williams indicated that he was happy to make the change if that was the will of the Committee.

The Committee recommended that the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources make the amendment to the Community Chest Grant Guidance, as described in the report, subject to officers confirming that there were no legal restrictions preventing the change. The Committee also requested that the affected Parishes be informed of the change in writing.

The Committee was informed that the next meeting was to be held on Thursday 22 February.