Agenda and minutes

Your Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which presented applications for funding that had been made to the Edward Harvist Trust. Additional information submitted by five organisations following the publication of the officers’ report was also tabled, as detailed below.

The Panel was advised that the Council administered the funds on behalf of the Edward Harvist Trust. Members discussed the application of the Council’s common grants criteria to the funding requests, with particular reference to the application of the criterion which states that: “the applicant must be a voluntary group working in Harrow, with 80% of its members either living or working in Harrow”. Whilst Members of the Panel felt that a flexible approach should be taken in relation to this criterion, it was advised that the decision to apply the common grants criteria to the Edward Harvist Trust grant applications had been agreed by the Panel at its meeting on 28 June 2005. It was further advised that the decisions of the Panel in relation to these grant applications must be consistent with this previous decision. The Panel requested that officers report back to their next meeting with details of the Panel’s ability to withdraw a decision made at a previous meeting.

In line with the discussion detailed above, Members discussed the applications as follows.

Norwood: The organisation had requested funding to develop a new school for children with learning difficulties. It was noted that the school was going to be located in Bushey, not in Harrow as stated in the officers’ report. The Panel acknowledged that it would be unrealistic for a project of this nature to satisfy the common grants criterion outlined above. In accordance with the grants process, the Panel agreed to recommend a grant of £5,000, on the condition that at least 80% of the funds were administered to Harrow residents. The Panel commended the work of the organisation.

National Youth Jazz Orchestra: The Panel received a brief letter and financial accounts submitted by the organisation following the publication of the officer report. The organisation had requested a contribution towards the running costs for their coach. The Panel agreed to recommend a grant of £1,500, reasoning that as 10% of the beneficiaries were Harrow residents, 10% of the £15,000 transport costs should be granted.

Love Lane Foyer Project: The organisation had requested funding to develop the Pinner Methodist Church. A Member of the Panel noted that the funding would be used to support a community facility and not to promote religious teaching. The Panel agreed to recommend a grant of £5,000. 

BTWSC: The Panel was informed that the organisation had submitted all the required information and that the Council knew the work of the group. The Panel agreed to recommend a grant of £2,500.

Somali Family Support Group: The Panel received a letter naming the organisation’s management committee and detailing their financial accounts for 2003/04, submitted by the organisation following the publication of the officer report. The Panel noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which provided an update on the grants reserved to voluntary organisations in 2005/06.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder)

(1)  That the reserved grant of £5,000 be released to Home Start Harrow;

(2)  that the grant of £1,000 reserved for the Harrow Show Committee be taken back into the grants budget.

[REASON:  To enable the Home Start Harrow to utilise the reserved grant of £5,000 and to take back into the grants budget a reserved grant that is no longer required.]

Your Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which presented an application from the Harrow Heritage Trust for a heritage grant of £15,000.

Officers advised the Panel that Cabinet normally considered the request for a heritage grant as part of the capital grants allocation. It was noted that the report to Cabinet on 17 March 2005 had not addressed the request for the heritage grant; it was therefore

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (To Cabinet)

That the Grants Advisory Panel in principle decision to award a £15,000 heritage grant to the Harrow Heritage Trust be approved.

[REASON:  To enable Harrow Heritage Trust to continue their renovation work of historical buildings in Harrow.]

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 Member:-

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 the following interests were declared:

(1)  The following Member declared a personal interest in the business transacted at the meeting arising from their involvement with the organisation listed. Accordingly, they remained and took part in the discussion and voting on the relevant item.

(2)  The following Member declared an interest in the business transacted at the meeting arising from their involvement with organisations listed.

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 9 June 2005 and 28 June 2005, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2005 and 28 June 2005, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 189 (GAP 87, VOL2, 28 June 2005)

A further sentence to be included at the end of the Note:

“The general spirit of the meeting was that an informal consultation should be separated from the formal part of a meeting if held on the same day; otherwise be held on a different day.”

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).

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

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

Report of the Director (Financial and Business Strategy)

See Recommendation 1.

Report of the Director (Financial and Business Strategy)

See Recommendation 2.

Report of the Director (Financial and Business Strategy)

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which summarised the Council’s support to the voluntary sector in 2004/05. The Panel was advised that a future report would breakdown the figures under specific categories, which would be based on the annual Home Office survey on Local Authority funding to the voluntary sector.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Director (Financial and Business Strategy)

See Recommendation 3.

Verbal update on the Member-Led Review of Community Premises

The Panel received an update on the Member-led review of community premises. The Panel was informed that an officer had been appointed to support the review and that meetings had been arranged.

A Member expressed concern that organisations were, allegedly, illegitimately using the community premises address. It was agreed that officers write to the manager of the community premises to inform him that the allegations would be investigated.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.