Agenda and minutes

To note any substitution of Board Members made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

The following substitutions of a Committee Members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules:

Councillor S. Bonfante for Councillor J.P. Skoczylas

Councillor S. Tunstall for Councillor S. McNamara

Councillor M. Birleson for Councillor L. Brandon

To note any apologies.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Brandon, S. McNamara and J.P. Skoczylas.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2022 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2022 were agreed as a correct record and noted by the Chair.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillor T. Travell declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10 of the agenda, as she knows the person who applied from the North Mymms Youth Project and she is also a North Mymms Parish Councillor.

Members to receive a verbal update on the Small Community Grants applications for Red Kite Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service and Northaw Transition CIC.

Members received a verbal update on the Small Community Grants application for Red Kite Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service and Northaw Transition CIC.

Red Kite Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service have been awarded £2,000 with the conditions:

1.)     To provide funding for the event providing it is delivered in accordance with the proposal, or (if they are not able to meet their funding goal)

2.)     A scaled down event that is agreed with officers as still meeting the objectives of the bid.

Conditions were approved by the Community Partnerships Manager in November 2022.

It was noted that Northaw Transition CIC had a surplus of £200.00 from the awarded £2,000, this will be returned to the Small Community Grants pot.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

The Board noted the update.

Members to receive a verbal update on the Annual Community Grants application for CVS.

Members received a verbal update on the Annual Community Grants application for CVS.

Comments from the board included:

Members wanted to know if the Community Car Scheme was advertised around the borough especially the rural areas.

Officers clarified that CVS had sent in the client locations which included rural areas of Welwyn Hatfield. Members were shown the locations during the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

The Board noted the update.

Report of the Assistant Director (Leisure, Community and Cultural Services) detailing the applications for Small Community Grants.

Report of the Assistant Director (Leisure, Community and Cultural Services) detailing the applications for Small Community Grants.

There was £50,000 available annually to support projects that make a positive impact on the community through the small grants process.

This was the second round of funding for the Small Community Grants for 2022/23.  The first round of funding took place in June 2022 when the Grants Board awarded a total of £19,086.54. The balance of £30,913.46 was available to be distributed during round two of the Small Community Grants fund.

In total £35,941.80 had been applied for in this round of funding for the Small Community Grant Applications.

In addition, a further £20,000 had been made available through the UK Shared Prosperity fund for the financial year 2022/23. Members noted that the money must be spent in the financial year 2022/23.

This takes the grant pot available to £50,193.46 to support these applications.

Members asked if the money left over could be rolled over to the next financial year. Officers stated that the money can be ring-fenced for 2023/24 into the Community Partnership Fund budget. Officers will consult the Grants Board on the use of the money in the new financial year.

6th Welwyn Garden City Methodist Brownie Guide unit - £2,000.00

This project is to provide additional activities to help promote wellbeing, such as sessions with Therapeutic Hooves; Wellbeing sessions, which offer meaningful activities to help build up self-esteem and confidence; Pottery classes to help encourage sharing of feelings and worries; and a Christmas event held at the Girlguiding headquarters.

The following points were noted:

·       Members thought the wellbeing idea was great.

·       Members were concerned about the perception of funding pampering sessions based on the information in the submission, although the good intent was noted.

·       Members were concerned about the subs the kids have to pay and it going to the headquarters. With the increase in costs, some parents may not be able afford to send their kids to Brownies.

·       Members asked if the money could go towards paying for the subs instead.  Officers stated that they could put a condition in to say not to use money on pampering but for free sessions.

AGREED a grant of £2,000.

With conditions:

(1)     The grant is not to be used for the pampering activities but can be used to fund the subs for the other activities included in the bid so that those sessions are free for the children to attend.

11th Welwyn Garden City Guides - £1,424.64

The funding will cover the cost of garage rent for two years. Garage rent is one of the guides units biggest expense. The group only receive funding from the members subs of £40.00 a term, for three terms a year.

The group store camping equipment in the garage, as they take the group on camping trips, where they learn new skills. The members’ subs can then be spent on activities, skills, badges and rent for meeting locations.

The following points were noted:

·       Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.