Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Cornes and Mrs Heames

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included in this agenda

There were none.

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17 September 2012.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17 September 2012 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to a report advising of those Community Chest applications processed for the period April 2011 to December 2012.

The Committee also considered applications from Wye Road Community Centre and Madeley and District Community Association and a proposal that the criteria for dealing with Community Chest applications be amended to read as follows:-

“The Community Chest cannot support the activities of public sector bodies, for example school or social services activities”.

The attention of the Panel was also drawn to a complaint made by Audley Parish Council about the way in which the Panel had dealt with an earlier application choosing not to support the Parish Council’s recommendation that no grant be made.  The Panel had resolved to support the application.

Resolved:-  (a) That the Panel notes the applications received and processed to date.

                     (b) That the application submitted by Wye Road Community Centre for £900 towards the costs involved in putting on a Senior Citizens Christmas Party (decorations/entertainment/food) be supported.

                     (c) That although the application submitted by Madeley and District Community Association does not fully accord with the Panel’s criteria, the Panel recognises that special circumstances exist to warrant a support for the application in the sum of £300.

                     (d) That in respect of the application made by Wye Road Community Centre the applicants be advised that every effort should be made to retain the decorations purchased from the grant awarded for use in future years.

                     (e) That the proposed amendment to the Panel’s criteria as indicated above be approved.

                     (f)   That the complaint from Audley Parish Council be referred to the Council’s Internal Audit Section for investigation.

Consideration was given to four applications for financial assistance from the Small Grants scheme.

Resolved:-  (a)  That the following grants be approved:-

Organisation                                                       Amount

                                                                                 £

Vitalise/Respite Care Breaks                             1179.75

For Disabled People and their

Carers

North Staffs Polish Day Care                             1250.00

Centre(NSPDCC)-Day Care

Sessions

(b) That in respect of the grant made to the North Staffs Polish Day Care Centre the applicants be informed that the grant should not be used in connection with religious activities.

(c) That consideration of the application submitted by Mow Cop Residents Association (Boiler upgrade at St Thomas Community Hall) be deferred to enable the applicants to provide information about the organisations that currently use the Hall together with details of its booking policy.

(d) That consideration of the application submitted by North Staffs Asperger and Autism Association (NSSAA/Childrens Social Link Club) be deferred to enable the applicants to provide details of the venues that it is proposed to use if the project goes ahead.

The Committee considered three Cultural Grant applications:-

Resolved:-  (a) That a grant of £850 be awarded to Dove Bank Primary School PTFA towards the costs involved in putting on an Arts and Science Week at the school.

                      (b) That due to the applicant not providing the information requested by the Panel at its last meeting, no grant be awarded in respect of the application submitted by CEDARS (Pupil Referral Unit).

                      (c)   That no grant be awarded in respect of the application submitted by Freerange Theatre Company because the applicant, as a private company, is ineligible.

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972

The Chairman agreed that the following Small Grant application should be treated as urgent business within the meaning of Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 in the special circumstances that the applicants(Newcastle Community Transport) were required to carry out urgent repairs to its three vehicles.

The Committee was advised of its earlier resolution to award a grant of £1875.00 to Newcastle Community Transport to install replacement retractable passenger steps on one of their mini-buses.

The total cost of completing those works was £1445.00 leaving an unspent balance of £430.00.  The organisation had contacted the Council asking that they be allowed to use that amount to meet the cost of urgent works to their mini-buses as indicated at the meeting.

Resolved:-  That Newcastle Community Transport be granted permission to use the unspent balance of £430 from the amount originally awarded to them to meet the cost of urgent health and safety repairs to its mini-buses.