Agenda and minutes

There were two nominations for Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee. Councillor S Ward was proposed by Councillor M Freeman and seconded by Councillor K Cursons and Councillor A Brandham was proposed by Councillor C Perham and seconded by Councillor T Morris to be Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee. On being put to the vote Councillor S Ward was appointed Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2018-2019.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor S Ward Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2018-2019.

Councillor S Ward took the Chair.

It was proposed by Councillor C Perham and seconded by Councillor T Morris that Councillor A Brandham be appointed Vice Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2018-2019.  There were no further nominations.  On being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor A Brandham Vice Chair of the Grants Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2018-2019.

Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a record be kept of the Members present and that this record form part of the minutes of the meeting. Members who cannot attend a meeting should tender apologies to the Town Clerk.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Rahman (substituted by Councillor T Morris).

(i)    Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer of it.

(ii)   Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council (see Dispensation Procedure).

Members were asked to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, which they had in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Cllr K Cursons declared a non pecuniary interest in Citizens Advice Leighton-Linslade as the official Town Council representative to the organisation and a former volunteer.

To receive questions and statements from members of the public in respect of any item of business included in the agenda, as provided for in Standing Order No.s 1(f) and 1(h).

A member of the public and representative of Friends of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park spoke briefly to give the Sub-Committee an update on work carried out by the volunteers at the Park over the past months.  The Sub-Committee thanked the volunteers and the Friends of Tiddenfoot for their hard work.

A member of the public and representative of Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society spoke to inform the Sub-Committee of their upcoming 100 year celebration in 2019.  They hoped to be able to offer free travel to all Leighton Linslade children aged 2-16 years and had submitted a grant application in the amount of £2000, although were aware the maximum general grant would be £500.

A member of the public and representative of Freddie and Friends Sunshine Stop spoke to update the Sub-Committee of their activities over the last year supporting children and families within the town.

A member of the public and representative of Girlguiding spoke briefly in support of their applications submitted for General Grant funding for projects which would benefit local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides units. These were mainly as a result of a new programme of Skills Builders activities launched by Girlguiding.

To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Grants Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 May 2018 (attached).

The Sub-Committee received the draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and were signed accordingly

To receive an update from Citizens Advice in respect of the grant funding received from the Town Council and services provided.

The Sub-Committee received a thorough written report and a verbal update from Tabitha Park, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Leighton-Linslade, in respect of the grant funding received from the Town Council and services provided to the public.  It was noted that members of the public were seeking advice for increasingly complex issues, particularly in respect of debts and benefits.

The Sub-Committee thanked the Citizens Advice Bureau for their hard work within the Leighton-Linslade Community.

RESOLVED to note the information.

(a)       To note that of the £10,000 general grant budget for 2018-2019, a total of £6,500 remains available (original budget of £10,000 less general grants already approved).

(b)       To consider applications for second-round general grants for 2018-2019 totalling £3,241.55 as per the attached schedule, in accordance with the General Grant guidelines (copy attached).

The Sub-Committee was advised that the budget allocated for General Grants in 2018-2019 totalled £10,000. A total of £6,500 remained available following the approval of grants totalling £3,500 earlier in the year.

                     RESOLVED to note the information.

                     The Sub-Committee received a summary of the eight applications received for a General Grant in 2018-2019, along with a summary of the documents submitted with the applications.

                      RESOLVED to approve General Grant funding amounting to £3,241.55 as follows, subject to all applicants having met the required criteria by providing the required documentation:

               In recognition that the application made by the Narrow Gauge Railway exceeded the maximum General Grant amount which could be approved by the Sub-Committee, it was unanimously agreed to put forward a recommendation to the Policy and Finance Committee to consider additional funding.

               RECOMMENDED to the Policy and Finance Committee to consider whether any additional grant funding could be found to support the application made by the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway in respect of their centenary celebrations for 2019.

The Committee may consider it appropriate to consider the following resolution should they consider that any discussion would be prejudicial to the public interest:  that, under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be excluded on the grounds of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information. The public and press to withdraw from the meeting during consideration of detailed discussion regarding: 

(a)       Honorary Burgess nominations for 2019 (guidelines attached; nominations to follow (closing date 31 October)). 

(b)       Honorary Burgess award procedure 2019 (verbal)

RESOLVED that, under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be excluded on the grounds of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.  The public and press to withdraw from the meeting during consideration of detailed discussion regarding 2018 Honorary Burgess nominations.

The Sub-Committee received and discussed one Honorary Burgess nomination. The nominee would now be contacted by officers to ascertain whether the individual was happy for their name to be put forward to the next stage of the process. 

RECOMMENDED to the Policy and Finance Committee to consider recommending to Council approval of one nomination for the 2019 Honorary Burgess award.

A suggestion had been put forward by Councillor C Palmer to the Grants Sub-Committee  regarding whether the presentation of the Honorary Burgess Award could be included in the annual Civic Service.  The Sub-Committee agreed this would be a good idea and hoped by doing this a wider audience would be reached informing them about this award, as well as giving greater recognition to the individual/s concerned for their voluntary service.

RESOLVED to support the suggestion to include the presentation of the Honorary Burgess awards within the programme of the annual Civic Service.