Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Police & Policy Co-ordination/Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/065

Contact: Claire Phillips, Partnership Officer Tel: (01865) 323967/Alexandra Bailey, Corporate Performance & Review Manager Tel: (01865) 816384

Report by Head of Strategy & Communications (CA8).

Cabinet are asked to consider bids to the Big Society Fund from the first wave of applications and agree which bids to award funding.  Bids may also include applications for asset transfer.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)               Approve those bids which meet the assessment criteria

(b)              Approve asset transfers in accordance with the asset transfer policy with the exception of Wolvercote where the Council will continue to repair and maintain the property.

(c)               Waive the ‘cooling off’ for the following four time-critical community asset transfers:

·        Allandale, Carterton

·        Glyme Hall, Chipping Norton

·        Faze, Faringdon

·        Wolvercote 

(d)              Ask officers to work with community groups to enable them to take over buildings to facilitate continuity of provision as much as possible from 1 September.

(e)               Ensure a grant funding agreement that meets legal requirements is in place for all successful projects

Cabinet considered bids to the Big Society Fund from the first wave of applications.

The Chairman noted that Councillor Heathcoat having declared a prejudical interest would exercise her right to speak to the meeting in line with the rights of members of the public but would then withdraw from the meeting and take no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

The Cabinet Member for Police & Policy Co-ordination introduced the report highlighting the work done by local councillors working with local people. Local Councillors had assessed the bids in their geographic area and he commented that 55% of bids received had been for services to young people. He intended to wait to the end of the discussion before proposing the recommendations as it was important to listen to what was said.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat spoke in support of the FAZE Youth and Community Centre bid referring to the huge support from the local community and to a number of successful funding events. She referred to the involvement of Faringdon Town Council and the interest in using the facility from the local Scout Group and Tennis Club.

The Chairman indicated that he would be taking the speakers in three groups based on the 3 Annexes to allow discussion by the Cabinet Members at each stage.

Councillor Hibbert-Biles spoke in support of the Glyme Hall bid noting that without it there would be no youth provision in Chipping Norton. She commented that there were still a number of issues to be negotiated in the lease and she hoped that there would be flexibility. The recommendation was to support the bid and she expressed her thanks on behalf of the residents of Chipping Norton who would be delighted.

Councillor Brighouse spoke in support of the Wood Farm Youth Work Training Project  hoping that it would receive support as it was in an area of massive social deprivation.  A successful bid would be underpinned by continued fund raising towards a professional youth worker and towards the maintenance of the building. The bid would enable the existing volunteers to increase their skills. She invited Cabinet Members to visit the project and Councillor Mallon replied that he would welcome the opportunity if invited.

Councillor Fooks spoke in support of the bid by  Wolvercote Young People’s Club noting that there were pockets of deprivation in the area. The local community had risen to the opportunity given them by the Fund process and she was sure that local support would be secured. The youth club was purpose built and the nearby Primary School was full and likely to expand. Councillor Fooks was impressed by the response from local people and commented that it had been hard work and there was some concern from them about how they could be ready by 1 September. Councillor Fooks thanked all the officers involved who were helpful in the bid preparation.

Councillor Purse commended the bid for the Wheatley Young People’s Centre which would serve the wider area. She was aware that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90