Agenda and minutes

Your Panel considered a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy that summarised the funding requested from voluntary organisations and the amount of funding being recommended by officers for each organisation, as well as funding recommended for the overall grants budget and inflation additions for salaries.

During the discussion that followed, several Members emphasised the current pressure on funding and expressed regret that it would not be possible to accommodate all growth requested. The Panel was advised on alternative funding sources that could be available to applicants, including the Edward Harvist Trust and North West London Community Foundation. The Panel was also advised to consider funding for organisations only within the context of their application, and not to establish a precedent for covering an organisation’s deficit. 

Those organisations in respect of which verbal or written amendments were moved are indicated on the attached schedule of decisions.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (To Cabinet)

That Cabinet (1) note that the overall grants budget for 2005/2006, subject to the Council approving its overall Revenue Budget for 2005/2006, is £1,139,600;

(2)  agree that the amount of £31,800 accounts for inflation additions for salaries;

(3)  agree to the ‘in principle’ decisions on grant funding and reserved funding in relation to the individual grant applications, as set out in the appendix to these minutes, subject to the Council’s approval of the overall Revenue Budget for 2005/2006.

[REASON:  As set out above and in the officer reports].

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 the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

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

RESOLVED:  To note the following declarations of interest declared by Members in relation to the business to be transacted at this meeting:

1.                   The following Members declared an interest in the items indicated arising from their involvement with the organisations listed, and remained and took part in the discussion and voting on the applications relating to those organisations:

2.                   The following Member declared personal and prejudicial interests in the item indicated arising from their involvement with the organisations listed. Accordingly they left the room and took no part in the discussion or voting on the applications relating to those organisations:

[Note:  Subject to paragraph 12.2(c) of Section A in Part 5 of the London Borough of Harrow Constitution, a Member appointed or nominated to a body by the authority as its representative may regard themselves as not having a prejudicial interest in a matter relating to that body].

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:  (1)  That all items be considered with the press and public present with the exception of the following item for the reasons set out below:

(2)  that the following item be admitted onto the Agenda before Item 8, “Grant Funding 2005/06” for the reasons set out below:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 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 Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at this meeting under the provisions of the Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

(1)                 Prior notice had been received from the Harrow Agenda 21 Environmental Forum of the wish to make a deputation to the Panel in relation to their grant application. The Chair put this request to the meeting and it was agreed at the discretion of the Panel to hear the deputation;

(2)            Additionally, informal representations were allowed at the meeting as contributions to the Panel’s consideration in relation to the following organisations:

§         Harrow Bengalee Association

§         Harrow Tamil School Association

§         National Council of Vanik Associations UK

§         BTWSC

§         Girl Guiding North West Middlesex

RESOLVED:  That the deputation and representations be received and noted, in thecontext of the consideration of grant funding for 2005/06.

[Note: The Panel’s policy (Minute 60: 28.07.03) in principle is not to receive deputationsrelating to individual grant applications].

The Panel received a presentation from the Secretary of the North West London Community Foundation, outlining its history and the funding opportunities it could provide for some organisations to be considered by the Panel.

RESOLVED:  That the information be noted.

Report of the Director (Financial and Business Strategy)

See Recommendation 1.