Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

The following declarations of interest were received in relation to the Call-In of the Executive Decision – Neighbourhood Services Grant Funding.

Councillor Cutkelvin declared that she had in the past spoken to the Saffron Resource Centre in relation to funding, but she had an open mind.

Councillor Fonseca declared that a member of the Sikh Community Centre had contacted him in relation to their grant funding, but he had an open mind.

Councillor Khote declared that a member of the Sikh Community Centre had contacted her in relation to their grant funding, but she had an open mind.

Councillor Gugnani declared that he had visited the Sikh Community Centre.

Councillor Bajaj declared that he had been to the Sikh Community Centre.

Councillor Clair, Deputy City Mayor in attendance, declared that he had previously spoken to members of the management committee at the Sikh Community Centre.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the interests declared were not considered so significant that they were likely to prejudice the Councillors’ judgement of the public interest.  They were not, therefore, required to withdraw from the meeting.

Lee Warner, Head of Neighbourhood Services declared that a member of his family volunteered at the Gorse Hill City Farm.

The Monitoring Officers submits a report that enables the Commission to consider the call-in of the Executive decision taken by the Assistant City Mayor – Neighbourhood Services relating to Neighbourhood Services Grant Funding.

The Chair thanked the Ward Councillors and representatives from the organisations who had come to address the Commission. The Chair explained how the meeting would proceed and the recommendations for Members in relation to the call-in.

The Head of Neighbourhood Services introduced the report on the call-in of the Executive Decision in respect of the Neighbourhood Services Grant Funding, explained the reasons for the decision and the process in working with the seven Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations. Members heard that the current grant agreements were made with the organisations in 2015 and the first stated purpose of the agreement with each organisation was to establish an approach toward self-sustainability.

The Chair invited Councillors Waddington, Councillor Riyait and Councillor Willmott, three of the Councillors who had signed the call-in, to address the Commission.  Points made by the Councillors included the following:

·      The voluntary organisations were thanked for the work that they were doing. The value that they gave to their communities was not in doubt.

·      It was very regrettable that there had been no consultation with Councillors in whose wards the organisations were based. All the other decisions within Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme had involved the Ward Councillors.

·      All funding to those organisations would cease by 2021.

·      The Beaumont Lodge Neighbourhood Association and Woodgate Residents’ Association both provided a range of activities for children and people of all ages; the Council would not be able to provide those activities.  Beaumont Lodge had recently held an anti-knife project for which a grant had been received from the Police. The Police grant however would not cover the running costs of the building.

·      Gorse Hill City Farm had been visited by generations of families; they would try to raise money by charging but history had shown that this would result in far fewer people visiting the farm.

·      Local Councillors needed more detailed information; some groups might manage with the reduction in their grant, but some would not.

·      The Sikh Community Centre provided a service to all people. The £58,000 they received was used to contribute towards running the centre in which the nursery is located.

·      The Council stated that they faced substantial demands on Children’s and Adults Services; the centre helped by delivering those services and it should be noted that the council signposted to the centre.

·      The presumption in the report was that the groups would secure the funding but there was concern that this would not be possible as it was very difficult to secure funding for general running costs.

·      A Councillor quoted a case where he had been approached by a distressed constituent who had no money for food. The Councillor had contacted the council out of working hours and had been told to advise the constituent to go to the Gurdwara on East Park Road. The Councillor questioned where people would go when Social Services could not help.

·      There was unallocated revenue in the Council budget and it was suggested that the Council needed to look at how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

The meeting closed at 7.08 pm.