Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Jose Hales and Councillor Dr Martin Cahn was present as a substitute. With the Absence of the usual Chair, Councillor Jose Hales, the Vice-Chair, Councillor Sue Ellington, assumed the role of Chair for the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To authorise the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2023 as a correct record.

By affirmation, the Committee authorised the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023 as a correct record.

The Committee was addressed by a guest speaker, Melissa Santiago-Val of Sew Positive (an organisation that had previously been awarded funding from the Community Chest), who informed Members of the work undertaken by the organisation and how the funding from the Council had been utilised. The Committee thanked the speaker for her presentation and commended Sew Positive for the work they were doing in South Cambridgeshire. Members asked some questions of the speaker and suggested that a press release be made by the Council with respect to Sew Positive and the Community Chest Grant funding it had received.

The Development Officer (Communities Team), presented the report. The Committee reviewed the applications to the Community Chest Grant funding scheme received between 7 September and 7 October. Comment was made on the remaining budget for the Community Chest in the financial year, but following discussion and comments from the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, the Committee was satisfied that the remaining budget was not a reason for concern.

After consideration of the applications, the Committee recommended to the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources that the application from:

·       Melbourn Community Hub Management Group (JWHVTQTK) be approved and awarded the full amount requested of £2,000.

·       Active with Parkinson’s Cambs (DPSSSWKL) be approved and awarded the full amount requested of £2,000.

·       Newton Village Rooms (ZCFQPKXB) be deferred, pending further information on the Charity Commission Custodian ownership and whether a quote could be obtained instead of an estimated cost.

·       Cambridge Past, Present & Future (HBCKJJQW) be rejected as the application did not provide a request for funding of a specific item or project.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed to recommend to the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources that an amendment, providing a link to ‘Defib Finder’, be included in the Community Chest Grant Guidance.

Friday 1 December 2023

The Committee was informed that the next meeting was due to be held on Friday 1 December 2023.