Agenda and minutes

Councillor Fonseca was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wann.

Councillor Fonseca declared an Other Disclosable Interest in respect of the Ward Community Budget as he was a member of the Thurnby Lodge Community Association.

In accordance with the Council’s new Code of Conduct this interest was not considered so significant that it was likely to prejudice the Member’s judgement of the public interest.  The Member therefore was not required to withdraw from the meeting.

Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

To note the following grants, which have been approved since the last meeting from the 2012/13 Thurncourt Ward Community Budget under the Council’s “fast track” procedure:-

a)    Concrete Paths at Colchester Road Allotments

Applicant:  Rowlatts Hill Allotment Association

Amount Approved: 

Summary:

It was proposed to extend the laying of concrete paths in the Colchester Road site already approved by the Thurncoat Ward for the water extension to include the major pathways of the site.

The main pathways on the site are not paved in any way and in wet weather and in winter can be muddy and slippery. This is a danger and worry to plot holders.  The laying of concrete paving stones therefore will make the allotment site a much safer place and will make the carrying or barrowing of produce, equipment and manure much easier. Most of the plot holders are middle aged or elderly and this project, if approved, will be much appreciated by them.

b)    Dream Academy of Dancing Performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London

Applicant:  Lisa Plumb

Amount Requested:  £500 towards the cost of hiring of a coach for the return trip to London, (total cost £800)

Summary:

A group of children from the Dream Academy of Dancing will be taken to London on 21 October 2012 to perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre.  This could be a once in a lifetime event for the children.

The Academy is mainly made up of children from the Thurnby Lodge estate.

Parents have had to fund tickets and costumes for the event, but many are on low incomes.  Assistance therefore has been requested in meeting the transport costs.

Places have been booked for the event and deposits paid.

c)    Purchase of Medium Duty Meat Slicer

Applicant:  Thurnby Lodge Lunch Club

Amount Requested:  £300

Summary:

It was proposed to purchase a new meat slicer, as previous domestic versions have proved unable to cope with the demands of preparing meat for the numbers catered for at the lunch club.

d)    Jubilee Lunch

Applicant:  Thurnby Ladies Circle

Amount Approved:

3 Course Lunch for approximately 30 ladies @ £7.00 per head    £210.00

Table coverings, napkins etc                                                                 £  25.00

Hire of Hall for 3 hours                                                                                       £  40.00

Total                                                                                                         £275.00

a)    Concrete Paths at Colchester Road Allotments

It was noted a visit had been made to the allotment site during a patch walk earlier in the year, when the condition of the paths had been seen.

The meeting was reminded that surplus grant funds from the 2011/12 financial year had been pledged towards projects and issues arising from the Thurncourt Ward Patchwalks in May 2012.  This grant therefore would be made from this allocation.

NOTED:

That a grant of £500 had been approved under the Council’s fast track procedure to the Rowlatts Hill Allotment Association to extend the laying of concrete paths in the Colchester Road allotment site.

b)   Dream Academy of Dancing Performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London

NOTED:

That a grant of £500 had been approved under the Council’s fast track procedure to the Dream Academy of Dancing towards the cost of hiring a coach for a return trip to Her Majesty’s Theatre, London where children from the Academy would be performing.

c)    Purchase of Medium Duty Meat Slicer

NOTED:

That a grant of £300 had been approved under the Council’s fast track procedure to Thurnby Lodge Lunch Club for the purchase of a medium duty meat slicer.

d)   Jubilee Lunch

NOTED:

That a grant of £275 had been approved under the Council’s fast track procedure to Thurnby Ladies Circle for a lunch in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

To consider the following applications for grants from the 21012/13 Thurncourt Ward Community Budget:-

a)         Improvements to Ball Court – £2,880 – submitted by Thurnby Lodge Community Forum (Appendix A1)

b)         Raven Youth Centre Fencing – £860 – submitted by Callie Buchanan (Appendix A2)

c)         Police Room Door - £600 – submitted by Mr T Taylor, Chairman of the Community Association (Appendix A3)

d)         Running a Local Youth Football Team in the Thurnby Lodge Area - £490 – Mr Liam Ferrar (Appendix A4)

a)    Grant Applications

i)     Improvements to Ball Court

It was noted that the applicant had submitted three quotes for the proposed work, as required under the Council’s financial procedures.

AGREED:

That a grant of £2,880 to Thurnby Lodge Community Forum for improvements to the ball court be supported.

ii)    Raven Youth Centre Fencing

It was noted that the replacement fencing would be more robust than that currently at the Centre and would be similar to the green fencing already in place on the other side of the Centre.  Quotes had been received for this and submitted with the application.

AGREED:

1)    That a grant of £860 to Callie Buchanan for the repair and replacement of fencing at the side of the Raven Youth Centre be supported; and

2)    That Callie Buchanan be asked to attend a future meeting to give feedback on how funding approved to the Raven Youth Centre had been used and impact it had had.

iii)   Police Room Door (Trevor Taylor, Chairman of the Community Association)

Trevor Taylor explained that it had been suggested that a door be installed as the Police needed some privacy while working at the Community Centre.  This needed to be a fire door.

The Police had been approached for a contribution towards the cost of the door and had agreed to pay half.  However, since the application had been submitted, the Police had indicated verbally that they could meet the whole cost. 

AGREED:

1)    That, subject to written confirmation being received from the Police about the proportion of this project they were able to fund, a grant of up to £600 to the Thurnby Lodge Community Association towards the purchase of a fire door for the Police room at Thurnby Lodge Youth and Community Centre be supported; and

2)    That the grant referred to in 1) above should not be paid until the written confirmation requested has been received.

iv)   Running A Local Youth Football Team in the Thurnby Lodge Area

The meeting was advised that the people playing in this team were mainly young people from Thurnby Lodge who were between 16 and 20 years old.  Many of these found it difficult to pay the fees necessary to play in local leagues as some were still in education, some were in employment and some were not in either.  Approximately 26 young people were signed up to this team.

AGREED:

That a grant of £490 to Mr Liam Ferrar towards the running of a youth football team in the Thurnby Lodge area be supported.

v)    Jubilee Event

The Members Services Officer reported verbally that an application had been received from local residents in Thurnby Lodge for a grant towards an evening event to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  It was noted that, although this event had now been held, the application had been received beforehand.

AGREED:

That a grant of £600 to residents of Thurnby Lodge towards a Jubilee evening event be supported.

vi)   Royal Horticultural Society Project

The meeting was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

a)    Driver for Thurnby Lodge Tenants and Residents Association Minibus

Representatives of Thurnby Lodge Tenants and Residents Association reminded the meeting that they had previously been given a grant to enable two people to be trained to drive the Association’s minibus.  One person had been trained, but despite extensive advertising, it had not been possible to find a second driver.

It was suggested that organisations such as Voluntary Action LeicesterShire could be able to help find a volunteer for this.

b)   Changes in Officers at Thurnby Lodge Community Association

It was noted that Trevor Taylor had resigned as Chairman of the Community Association and Allan Gratrix had resigned as Treasurer.

c)    Thurnby Lodge Carnival

The meeting was reminded that the Thurnby Lodge Carnival had been cancelled, due to bad weather over the summer.  A grant of £3,000 had been approved from the Ward Community Budget towards the Carnival, but it was not known at present how much of this grant had been used.

AGREED:

That the Members Services Officer be asked to:-

a)    establish how much, if any, of the grant approved towards the Thurnby Lodge Carnival has been used; and

b)    if any grant remains, recover the unused portion.

The meeting closed at 2.35 pm