Agenda item

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.

Jerry Connolly, Member Support Officer, gives an update on the current position with regard to the Community Meeting budgets and introduces applications for funding that have been received as follows:

Application 1: Act Up Young People’s Theatre Company

Application 2: Dog waste bins

Application 3: Independent education advice.

Jerry Connolly, Members’ Support Officer, introduced applications for funding that had been received and gave an update of the current funds available.

It was noted that this special meeting had been arranged to consider budget applications before the end of the financial year. The meeting noted that there were insufficient remaining funds for all of the applications to be approved, so all applications were considered together to reach agreement on how to allocate the remaining funds.

Jerry suggested that the application for dog waste bins be deferred to a future meeting for further discussion on where they were needed. Some concern was raised regarding this application, as it was felt that this was a service function. It was reported, however, that funds were limited and previous requests for bins had not been met.

It was reported that an application that was circulated at the meeting for Saffron Directory had been received within the required time scale, but had not been included with the agenda. This was, therefore, to be considered alongside the other applications. It was felt that the directory was vital for the Saffron area and the meeting agreed to fund the application in full.

Peter Thomson, Advice Worker at Saffron Resource Centre, explained the work of the education advice service, stating that it was currently the only service of its kind in the city and offered vital support, advice and advocacy to parents and young people. Two parents spoke in support of the service, explaining their experiences and how the service had proved invaluable. Following queries, Peter stated that a large amount of funding sources had been explored, but had been unsuccessful. It was suggested that Peter also apply to the Eyres Monsell and Aylestone Community meetings, as the service would help residents of those wards too.

The meeting considered the application for the Act Up Young People’s Theatre. It was noted that they had already received funding for a different aspect of the project earlier in the year. Concerns were raised regarding whether the service was duplication of what was offered at the Knighton Fields Centre, and what proportion of service users were from the Freemen Ward. It was reported that they had a different approach to existing services, reaching disadvantaged young people. It was also felt that there were alternative funding sources for the arts that could be explored.

The meeting considered how to allocate the remaining funds. It was suggested that the Act Up Young People’s Theatre Company’s application was not time critical, and it was agreed, therefore, that Jerry explain to them that consideration of the bid had been deferred, due to the limited funds available and the more urgent need of the other applications. They would be invited to the next meeting to explain the service further. Following this decision, the meeting agreed to allocate the remaining funds to the Saffron Resource Centre Independent Education Advice Service, with an assurance of sympathetic consideration of the outstanding amount in the next financial year.

AGREED:

1)           that the application for dog waste bins be deferred to the next meeting for a mapping exercise to take place;

2)           that £1,150 be allocated to the Saffron Directory from the Community Cohesion fund;

3)           that £3,850 be allocated to the Independent Education Advice Service, with assurance of sympathetic consideration of the outstanding balance in the next financial year, and the recommendation that applications also be submitted to Eyres Monsell and Aylestone Community Meetings;

4)           that the application for the Act Up Young People’s Theatre Company be deferred to the next financial year, and a representative be invited to the meeting to explain the work of the group.