Agenda and minutes

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy which set out details of correspondence received from voluntary organisations appealing funding allocated at the Panel’s previous meeting.

An officer stated that a letter had previously been despatched to organisations regarding the Council’s financial position, and which also set out the appeals criteria.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (To the Portfolio Holder, Finance and Business Matters)

That (1) the organisations that did not meet the appeals criteria not be considered;

(2)  funding to organisations that did meet the criteria be revised as set out at Appendix 1 to these minutes;

(3)  funding to Bentley Priory Nature Reserve, as a special case, be revised from £1,900 to £2,200.

[REASON:  To finalise the allocation of funding to Voluntary Organisations in 2007/08].

[Note:  Councillors Ms Nana Asante, Asad Omar, Mrs Rekha Shah and Mrs Sasi Suresh wished to be recorded as having voted against (1) above].

(See also Minutes 49 and 55).

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy, setting out grants which had been reserved from the Panel’s meeting on 22 January 2007.

On considering the applications, it was

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (To the Portfolio Holder, Finance and Business Matters)

That (1) £1,000 remain reserved for Flash Musicals, pending the outcome of discussions regarding lease arrangements;

(2)  £500 be released to Harrow Gingerbread;

(3)  £4,500 be released to Home Start Harrow.

[REASON:  To finalise the allocation of funding to voluntary organisations in 2007/08].

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy, setting out applications to the Edward Harvist Trust Fund.

An officer explained that there was a balance of £7,843 of Trust monies to be allocated in 2007/08.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (To the Portfolio Holder, Finance and Business Matters)

That (1) £500 be allocated to Friends of Canons Park;

(2)  £80 be allocated to Harrow Public Transport Users Association;

(3)  £2,000 be allocated to Stanmore Baptist Church;

(4)  £940 be allocated to Survive and Save Club.

[REASON:  To consider the allocation of funding to voluntary organisations from monies received from the Edward Harvist Trust in 2007/08].

The Panel received a report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy, which presented requests by Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and Mencap Hillingdon North to sponsor their applications for street collection permits.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (To the Portfolio Holder, Finance and Business Matters)

That the applications received from Harrow Mutliple Sclerosis Society and Mencap Hillingdon North for street collection permits for 2007 be sponsored.

[REASON: To enable the organisations to make a formal application to the Metropolitan Police in order to obtain a permit to collect on a specified date].

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)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

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:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that (1) the following Members declared a prejudicial interest arising from their involvement with the organisations listed. Accordingly, they left the room and took no part in discussions or voting relating to these organisations:

(2)  the following Members declared a personal interest arising from their involvement with the organisations listed.  Accordingly, they took part in discussions and voting relating to these organisations:

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 Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That (1) in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following agenda item be admitted late to the agenda by virtue of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency detailed below:-

(2)  all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 22 November 2006, 18 December 2006, and 22 January 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

[Note:  The above minutes are published on the Council's intranet and website].

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meetings held on 20 November 2006 and 18 December 2006 be taken as read and signed as a correct record;

(2)  the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2007 be deferred until printed in the  Council Bound Minute Volume.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED: That the following question be received under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution):

1.

[Note:  An oral response was given to the question. In addition, one supplemental question was asked, which was additionally answered.]

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

In accordance with Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution), the Panel received a petition from Blossom Fitness, containing 185 signatures.  The terms of the petition cited the potentially adverse affects of a cut in funding on the activities of the organisation, and presented information relating to group members.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be noted.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

[Note:  The Panel’s policy (Minute 13: 06.07.06) is to receive deputations annually at its November meeting.].

RESOLVED:  That Committee Procedure Rule 15.7 (Part 4E of the Constitution) be suspended in order to receive deputations from the Harrow Association of Voluntary Services, KSIM Senior Citizens Association, and Blossom Fitness, in relation to agenda item 8, Main Grant Applications 2007/08 Appeals.

(See also Minute 55).

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy.

Further to Recommendation 1 above, prior to the discussion on this item, the Panel received deputations from Harrow Association of Voluntary Services, KSIM Senior Citizens Association, and Blossom Fitness.  Deputees felt that the reduction in the grants budget for 2007/08 would jeopardise the work of their organisations, as well as those of voluntary groups throughout the Borough.  It was felt that the Council had not entered into appropriate consultation with voluntary groups when making the reductions, particularly in relation to those organisations holding Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the Council.

An officer stated that there had been appropriate consultation with organisations regarding the grants budget, including documentation published through the Council’s website and Harrow People, and several public meetings regarding the Council’s financial position.  It was added that discussions were continuing with those organisations holding SLAs regarding funding levels.

Further to this, a motion was put and seconded proposing restoration of funding to those voluntary organisations holding SLAs.  Upon being put to a vote, the motion was not carried.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

(See also Minutes 49 and 54).

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy.

(See Recommendation 2).

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy.

(See Recommendation 3).

Report of the Director of Financial and Business Strategy

(See Recommendation 4).