Issue - meetings

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

Information on the Community Ward Budget will be provided.

Feedback from successful funding application from last year’s budget will also be presented verbally by the applicant, or a written update will be read out by an officer.

Randeep Singh Mattu – Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) gave an update on the Ward Community Budget. Attendees were asked to note that five budget applications had been approved as follows:

Western Park Freeride Club had requested £650 for ‘Summer Jam’, a cycling festival. £500 had been approved.

Anna McAuley had requested £400 for the Westfield Road Street Party. £320 had been approved.

Yonnel Fashion UK had requested £1000 for a fashion show at the All Nations Church, Frog Island. £450 had been approved.

Purple Patch Crafts had requested £500 to teach arts and crafts to adults within the community. £500 had been agreed.

Soccer School had requested £500 in order to provide opportunities for local children to play sports during school holidays. £500 was approved.

The total balance remaining in the budget was £15780.

There were three applications to be considered; two more for the Soccer School and an application from the Western Park Beer Festival.

Attendees expressed concerns that none of the applicants had come to the meeting to present their bid. Randeep explained that ward budgets were dealt with differently now with decisions being made before the meeting. However applicants needed to provide feedback on their bid and failure to do so, would disqualify them from future funding. It was noted that Brian Hookway (Soccer School) had attended the previous meeting to present his funding bid.

An attendee commented that he would like to submit a bid to improve the toilets in the Boys’ Club by replacing the existing trough. Councillors asked him to provide a plan or sketch of the proposed improvement.

Action: The attendee to submit a plan/sketch of the intended improvements relating to the Boys’ Club toilets. Randeep Singh Mattu to help with the funding application process if required.

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

Members of the public will receive an update on the Community Ward budget.

Information relating to the budget is attached in Appendix B.

Randeep Singh Mattu – Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) gave an update on the Ward Community Budget. The following applications were considered:

1623: The Wednesday Club applied for £350 towards transport for elderly people to the Wednesday club – grant of £350 approved in full.

1635: Letchworth Area Watch requested £500 to support bands on Western Park – grant of £500 approved in full.

1640: Fitness in Schools requested £1,000 support towards February and April half term break soccer school – grant of £1,000 approved in full.

5146: Sensational Vibes Youth and Community Development Group requested £1,350 towards a Carnival Arts project – application not supported.

5150: African Catholic Chaplaincy Leicestershire applied for £800 for cultural and educational trips – application not supported.

1696: Ndi Igbo applied for £1,500 support towards the IRI-YI (New Yam) Festival 2016 – grant of £750 approved.

1721: Kingswood Area Neighbourhood Watch applied for £250 to hold a street party (Queen’s 90th birthday) – grant of £250 approved in full.

1729: St Annes Community Church Hall requested £4,000 towards building an accessible toilet and baby changing facility – grant of £4,000 approved in full.

1743: Westfield Road Neighbours Street party applied for £582.40 to hold a street party for the Queens 90th birthday celebrations – application not supported.

Applicant presentations:

·         Brian Hookway spoke on behalf of application 1640 ‘half term break fitness in schools’.

·         Walter Magulike from application Ndi Igbo Leicestershire presented information on the Nigerian festival ‘Iri-Yi’ which was held annually and had been a success integrating communities and showcasing cultural heritage.

·         Cathy Harrell from St Annes Community Church discussed fundraising activities the group had been involved in, in order to rebuild the side of the church building which also required an accessible toilet.

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting Budget.

Funding Applications to be considered at the meeting

Project Name: Plot to Plot – Funding requestedto create a community orchard and fruit farm.

Submitted by: New Parks Community Panel

Amount requested: £1200

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganzas – Funding requested for an Alice in Wonderland Fun Run and Tea Dance at Abbey Park. (Joint Bid)

Submitted by: GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested: £500

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganzas – Funding requestedto hold community workshops to develop a Christmas grotto which will be a resource for future years.(Joint Bid)

Submitted by: GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested: £500

Project Name: Celebrating Academic Success – Funding requested to celebrate the success of Key Stage 4 African Heritage students.

Submitted by: Phoenix Agenda (Joint Bid)

Amount requested: £400

The following funding applications had been fast tracked for payment prior to the meeting:

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganza (joint bid) -  Alice in Wonderland Fun Run and Tea Dance at Abbey Park

Submitted by GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested and supported: £500

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganza (joint bid) – Community workshops to develop a Christmas grotto.

Submitted by GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested and supported: £500

The following applications were considered during the meeting:

Project Name: Plot to Plot

Submitted by the New Parks Community Panel

Amount requested: £1200

Funding application supported in full to the value of £1200

Project Name: Celebrating Academic Success (joint bid)- to celebrate the success of Key Stage 4 African Heritage students.

Submitted by Phoenix Agenda

Amount requested: £400

Funding application supported in full to the value of £400.

Action: For the Community Engagement Officer to process the above applications.

Late funding application:

Project Name: Western Park Festival

Submitted by: The Friends of Western Park

Amount requested: £5000

Adrian Alexander, Chair of the Friends of Western Park presented the funding application. Councillors explained that the bid would need to be looked at in detail as it had just been submitted, but noted that support for the bid was expressed by those present. 

Action: For the Community Engagement Officer to process the above application for the councillors to consider in more detail.

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting Budget.

Funding Applications to be considered at the meeting

The Klick: African Caribbean Carnival.

£500 has been requested to enable young people’s involvement in the annual festival. This took place on 1 August 2015 and funding was requested to make costumes and cover costs for the preparation for this event. 

Woodgate’s Residents’ Association: Music Development Programme

£500 has been requested for the Youth Development Programme which is held at the Woodgate’s Resource Centre. This teaches children various musical instruments including guitar, keyboard, violin, flute, clarinet, drums as well as singing.

Brian Hookway: Soccer School

£1000 has been requested for soccer training for young people aged 5-14 years for 16 hours a week over the school holidays in October and December.

Braunstone Frith Tenants and Residents Association: Christmas Meal

£500 has been requested for a Christmas Meal for people isolated by age and / or disability. There will be 50 spaces available for the event which is due to take place on the first Monday in December.

Councillors were reminded that under the Council’s Code of Conduct, they should declare any interest they had in the budget applications.  No such declarations were made.

The following funding applications were considered:

The Klick: African Caribbean Carnival.

£500 had been requested to enable young people’s involvement in the annual festival. This took place on 1 August 2015 and funding was requested to make costumes and cover costs for the preparation for this event. 

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Woodgate’s Residents’ Association: Music Development Programme

£500 has been requested for the Youth Development Programme, held at the Woodgate’s Resource Centre. This programme taught children various musical instruments including guitar, keyboard, violin, flute, clarinet, drums as well as singing.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Brian Hookway: Soccer School

£1000 had been requested for soccer training for young people aged 5-14 years for 16 hours a week over the school holidays in October and December.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £1000

Braunstone Frith Tenants and Residents Association: Christmas Meal

£500 had been requested for a Christmas Meal for people isolated by age and / or disability. 50 spaces would be made available for the event which was due to take place on the first Monday in December.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Action: the Community Engagement Officer to process the above funding applications.

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting budget.

The following two funding applications have been fast tracked for payment:

Cornerstone PCC: Community Fun Day. £500 requested and supported.

Police Community Support Officers: Public Services Day. £500 requested and supported.

Funding Application to be considered at the meeting

Ur Choice-Youth Action Core Group: Homefarm Festival:

 £1550 requested for a free summer family event which will be organised and delivered by young people.

Councillors were reminded that under the Council’s code of conduct, they should declare any interest they may have in the budget applications.

·         Applications Fast Tracked since the last meeting:

Cornerstone PCC (5080) A joint bid for a family fun day on the grounds of Alderman Richard Hallam school. Application for £500 – Grant of £500

Fast Tracked.

Police Community Support Officers (1404) A bid for a public services event at Beaumont Shopping Centre showcasing the roles and skills of the 999 emergency services, armed forces and partner agencies. Application for £500 – Grant of £500 Fast Tracked.

·         Applications considered at the meeting:

Ur Choice – Youth Action Group (1403) A bid for a summer event “Homefarm Festival” on 15^th August 2015, to be organised and delivered by young people. Application for £1550 – Grant of £1000 Supported.

African Catholic Chaplaincy Leicestershire (1429) A bid for organised trips to places of different religious and British cultural interest for young people. Application for £700 – Grant of £500 Supported, subject to proof of some people from the Beaumont Leys area attending.

Councillors announced that bids of up to £500 could be approved and fast tracked outside of the community meetings. Anyone submitting bids over £500 must produce all of the relevant information and paperwork e.g. audited accounts before the meeting as required in the funding guidance. Councillors also advised that they would require the same information for bids under £500 to enable a proper decision to be taken and for safeguarding purposes.

Councillors invited recipients of ward funding to provide feedback after their events to the next community meeting.