Issue - meetings

Flash Musicals (Granting of Lease)

Meeting: 01/10/2013 - Call-In Sub-Committee (Item 58)

58 Call In of the Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts - Flash Musicals (Granting of Lease) pdf icon PDF 68 KB

The following documents are attached:

 

a)     Notice invoking the Call-in

 

b)     Decision Notice dated 16 September 2013

 

c)      Report submitted to the Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received the papers in respect of the call-in notice submitted by 6 Members of Council in relation to the decision made by the former Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts on Flash Musicals (Granting of Lease).

 

The Chair advised the Sub-Committee that the former Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts had indicated that he would not be in attendance at the meeting but that he had submitted a written statement which was available to those present at the meeting and attached at Appendix A to these minutes.  The Chair indicated that he would break for five minutes during the meeting to allow reading time.

 

The Chair invited the representative of the signatories, Councillor Bill Phillips, to present the reasons for the call in of the decision to the Sub-Committee.

 

Councillor Phillips circulated a written statement to members of the Sub?Committee which he read out and which is attached as appendix B to these minutes.  He stated the call in was focused on the process and the importance of treating all organisations equally.  It was recognised that there would always be winners and losers in any process but the former Portfolio Holder’s decision committed the Council to a 5 year contract and other groups had not been afforded the same opportunity.

 

Gerry Davine, Chair of Harrow Community Transport, stated that he was in attendance as the representative of an organisation that dealt with the Council in terms of community premises.  He expressed his concern about the allocations used to set grants.  He explained that his organisation had struggled in terms of community premises since the demise Harrow Association of Voluntary Service (HAVS) and stated that, in his view, there had not been an even handed approach in terms of assistance given by the Council.  He understood that Flash Musicals was an excellent and valued organisation but the process in this instance was of concern as it appeared that the amount being written off was close to the sum removed from the grants budget.  As a result of the Council’s budget savings several organisations had ceased to exist in Harrow and he stated that one organisation should not be permitted to have an increase in finances as a result.  The process for allocating funding should be fair and transparent and had an impact on the morale and effectiveness of the voluntary sector.

 

After allowing five minutes to allow Members and those present to read and consider the former Portfolio Holder’s tabled written statement, the Chair invited Councillor Phillips, as representative of the signatories, to make comments.

 

Councillor Phillips expressed the view that it would be unfair to comment on the statement in the absence of the former Portfolio Holder but it appeared that there had been a great deal of informality in relation to the arrangements in place.  He did accept that the decision appeared to be about tidying up history but stated that he would have liked to have had the opportunity to question the former  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58