Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             after notifying the Chair at the start of the meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no public questions, petitions or deputations submitted to this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Rules 15, 13 and 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy, which set out the proposed recommendations arising from the strategic review of support to voluntary organisations.

An officer informed the Panel that a new draft strategy for supporting the voluntary sector in Harrow had been produced, incorporating feedback following the 2-stage consultation.  Members were asked for final observations on the draft prior to the document being submitted to Cabinet on 14 October 2004.

The officer noted the comments made by the Panel, in particular the suggested rewording of some phrases, and undertook to incorporate them into his report to Cabinet.

A Member requested some literature on the European funding organisation. She felt that voluntary organisations may be able to tap into their funds and that Members therefore needed to be familiar with their existence.  She suggested that the officer responsible be invited to the next meeting to answer any questions Members may have.

RESOLVED: That (1) the Panel’s comments on the new strategy for supporting the voluntary sector in Harrow be approved;

(2) the proposal that Cabinet approve the new strategy, as now amended and attached at Appendix 1, be endorsed;

(3) the method of allocating space in the Community Premises become grants-based and subject to the Community Strategy criteria; and

(4) the Council’s Funding Officer be invited to the next meeting of the Grants Advisory Panel.

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which asked Members to consider a request from the Harrow Council for Racial Equality (HCRE) for additional funding of £3,000 for 2004/05.

The HCRE had assumed responsibility for monitoring cases of racial incidents reported to Harrow Police since the Racial Harassment Sub-Committee’s funding had not been renewed by the Council in the current financial year. The Racial Harassment Sub-Committee had previously undertaken this task. The HCRE needed either to finalise its budget for the current financial year, or to seek funding from alternative sources in relation to the additional duties they had undertaken since 1 April 2004.

Members were asked to consider whether HCRE could undertake these responsibilities within their existing resources, or whether they needed additional funding. Members requested further information on the racial incidents monitoring carried out by the Racial Harassment Sub-Committee ahead of making any decision on the request from HCRE.

RESOLVED:  That a decision on the request from HCRE for additional funding be deferred until the next Panel meeting, to enable Members to receive additional information.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with

Voluntary Organisation Applications

A Member suggested that a model completed application form should be despatched to voluntary organisations when they requested application forms, as an organisation had faced difficulties completing their form.  Members agreed, and the Chair also requested that a letter go out at the same time advising voluntary organisations that Members of the Panel were happy to receive invitations to visit and discuss matters regarding mutual interest.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.