COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & LEISURE COMMITTEE
25 January 2001
(2.30-6.55pm)
PRESENT: Councillors J. Rosenstiel (Chair),
Callaghan, Dixon, Dryden, Ellis-Miller, Levison, Reed and Taylor. [In
addition, Councillor Lakin in his capacity as Alternate Member for the Liberal
Democrat Group in Councillor M Schofield’s stead and Councillor Talbot with the
permission of the Chair on Ward issues raised in 01/d/12]
FOR THE
INFORMATION OF THE COUNCIL
01/d/01 MINUTES
The minutes of
the meeting held on 16 November 2000 were confirmed as a correct record and
signed by the Chair.
01/d/02 APOLOGIES
Apologies for
absence were received from Councillors Benstead and M. Schofield.
01/d/03 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The following Code of Conduct (non-financial) interests were declared:
Councillor Dixon (minute reference 01/d/07) as Council observer on Citizens Advice Bureau.
Councillor Lakin (01/d/07) as a member of Cambridge and District Mediation Service.
Councillor Levison (01/d/07) as a Council observer on The Junction
Councillor Ellis-Miller (01/d/07) as a user of Romsey Mill
Councillor Callaghan (01/d/07) as a member of Black Women’s Support Group, Ethnic Community Forum and Cambridge Womens’ Resources Centre
Councillor Reed (01/d/07) as Council observer on Centre 33
Councillor Rosenstiel (01/d/04) as a member of the Red Studio User Group (for Cruse Bereavement Care) and as parent of a child at Parkside Community College. For 01/d/07 as a user of Cambridge Drama Centre and the Folk Museum; as a trustee for Student Community Action.
Councillor Taylor (01/d/08) as a Director of Cambridge YMCA (Councillor Taylor left the room during consideration of the item).
Pecuniary (financial) Interests:
Councillor Rosenstiel (01/d/07) as an employee of Cruse Bereavement Care. Councillor Rosenstiel left the room during consideration of the grant for this organisation.
01/d/04 PETITION
: COMMUNITY CENTRE IN ST. MATHEWS AREA OF PETERSFIELD WARD
The Chair advised the Committee that the further information (interleaved) which had been submitted by the petitioners contained references to the Red Studio User Group and Parkside Community College. In view of the fact that the Chair had declared interests in both (see above), she stated that Councillor Taylor would take the Chair however Councillor Rosenstiel remained in the room and took part in the debate and the vote.
Councillor Taylor, Vice Chair in the
Chair.
Glenys Malyon for the Petersfield Area Community Trust (PACT) addressed the Committee on the following petition (Shirley Whitehouse and Dorothy Runnicles were also present for PACT but did not speak).
“Following the closure of the Howard Mallet Youth
Centre, young people in the Petersfield area now have nowhere to meet for
recreation, leisure pursuits or socialising.
When the Junior Youth Club was held at the Howard
Mallet Centre sixty-five Petersfield Children used to attend, but since it has
moved to East Barnwell Community Centre only fifteen can get there from
Petersfield. Older teenagers now meet up at friend’s houses, in numbers and
with a frequency which has become intolerable, or hang about on the streets.
We, the undersigned, support Petersfield Area Community Trust (PACT) in
urging all those concerned with decision making in these matters to provide a
suitable venue for young people in the Petersfield area as an immediate and
urgent priority.”
Glenys Malyon
referred to the additional submission and the PACT survey which had been
circulated to members. In summary she stated that the Petersfield area needed a
community focus. Community activity had already taken place at a variety of
facilities including Cherry Trees Day Centre, St Matthew’s Church Hall and Alex
Wood Hall and PACT would like to see further use of these venues. However, none of these venues were ideal
long term solutions.
In response to
a question concerning the approach made to the County Council, Glenys Malyon stated that it had been
approached through the Labour County Councillor spokesperson on the Education
Committee. However, ‘good’ links with the County Council level
had not been achieved.
Councillor Reed
proposed that an additional recommendation be added to the three before the
Committee.
To request the
Environment Committee and Planning Sub-Committee to:
(i) Ensure that progress is made on the structural strategy studies; and
(ii) To develop a policy on the use of s106 agreement contributions
towards youth and community facilities in Petersfield, alongside the wider
city-wide policy.
In time to
inform the development of an action plan to be brought to this Committee in
November 2001.”
Councillor
Reed’s amendment was agreed by 9-0.
In response
to a question from Councillor
Reed, the Head of Community Development
advised the committee that the ‘area’ in recommendation (b) would include the whole of Petersfield and
beyond (to those venues which serve Petersfield residents). The Head of Community Development undertook
to ensure that the Council consulted widely.
Councillor Reed also suggested that al local base for Phoenix 2000 be considered for example at the Cherry
Trees Day Centre.
The Committee
agreed to:
(i) Refer the petition and research to the Community Education
Area Planning Group, Parkside Community College, the City Wide Youth
Participation Action Group and the City Centre Youth Venue Group for comment.
(ii) Prepare a brief report bringing
together relevant research into Youth and Community needs and provision in the
area by April 2001 and organise a workshop with PACT and other interested
parties to explore the issues arising from their petition and research and to
develop an action plan by July 2001.
(iii) Report back to the
Committee by November 2001.
(iv) To request the Environment Committee and Planning Sub-Committee to:
Ensure that progress is made on the structural strategy studies; and
To develop a policy on the use of s106 agreement contributions towards
youth and community facilities in Petersfield, alongside the wider city-wide
policy.
In time to inform the development of an action plan to be brought to
this Committee in November 2001.
Action by: Head of Community Development
Councillor Rosenstiel in the Chair.
01/d/05 PUBLIC
QUESTION TIME
See under 00/d/83.
01/d/06 DIRECTOR OF CORN EXCHANGE
The
Committee noted that the Director was soon to leave the Council. On behalf of the Council, the Committee
placed on record its appreciation of the work of the Director and wished him every success in his new position at
the Brighton Dome.
In response to a question from Councillor Dryden, the
Chair stated that the Director’s departure would make not effect the outcome of
the Best Value Review currently taking place.
01/d/07 GRANT
ALLOCATIONS 2001/02
The summary tables of grants awarded are attached at
the end of these minutes. It should be
noted that where it states in these tables ‘recommendations/draft
recommendations’ the committee agreed
each one as proposed unless referred to the contrary below.
The Committee acknowledged that there had been a considerable amount of officer work which had gone into producing these reports and the decision to report a committee cycle earlier had been welcomed by the prospective recipients of grant aid. The Committee noted that these grants would be confirmed at 8 March meeting as the budget for 2001/02 was to be agreed by Council on 15 February.
Councillor Reed requested an amendment requesting that the Committee defer good cause grants until the criteria was determined at 8 March meeting. The Chair stated that those groups which had been identified for a good cause grant were well known to the Council and had been working in the city for at least one year. Councillor Reed withdrew the proposed amendment.
Community Development grants
During consideration of each voluntary organisation report, the following points were made.
Citizens Advice Bureau (page 42) – In response to a question from Councillor Reed, the Principal Community Development Officer advised the Committee that the CAB received less that 50% funding from the Council. The Cambridge Independent Advice Centre received less grant as it received a greater proportion of funding through its legal aid work. The Committee also noted that advice agencies would be the first voluntary sector grouping to be the subject of a ‘mini’ Best Value Review (as recommended in the Best Value Review of Grants).
Indian Community & Culture Association (page 61) – In response to a question from the Chair concerning access to the building by the wider community, the Committee noted that officers had asked the Association to contact ward councillors on this matter.
Mary Seacole Centre (page 67) – The Principal Community Development Officer advised the Committee that when the organisation’s lease was due to be reviewed in December it was likely to rise by up to 50% and officers would report back any further application for funds.
Meadows Children & Family Wing (page 69) – In response to a question from Councillor Dryden concerning contributions from South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC), the Head of Community Development stated that discussions were due to take place concerning SCDC’s financial support for activities used in Kings Hegdes/Arbury by SCDC residents and it was also envisaged that SCDC would attend the Compact Planning Day.
Romsey Mill (page 81) – The Committee was pleased to note that the organisation was in a stable financial position.
Youth Action (page 97) – In response to a request from Councillor Reed, the officers undertook to ensure that the organisation was targeting disadvantaged groups.
Resolved
To approve the individual recommendations listed in the chart in Appendix 2 and detailed in the reports in Appendix 3 except for the recommendation concerning Cruse Bereavement Care.
Action by: Director of Community Services and Environment & Planning
Because of her pecuniary interest, Councillor
Rosenstiel left the room and Councillor Taylor took the Chair whilst the
Committee considered the recommendation for Cruse (page 46).
The Vice Chair
in the Chair
Resolved
To approve the individual recommendation in Appendix 2 and detailed in the report in Appendix 3 for Cruse Bereavement Care.
Action by:
Director of Community Services
Councillor Rosenstiel in the Chair
Leisure Revenue and Large Project Grants
During consideration of the individual reports, the following points were made.
Centre at St Pauls ( page 149) – In response to a request from Councillor Reed, the Policy Officer (Leisure Grants) undertook to discuss with the organisation other possibilities for funding.
Tree Arts (page 185) – In response to a question from Councillor Reed, the Policy Officer (Leisure Grants) informed the Committee that the organisation was independent of the County Council’s Community Education Service.
Resolved
To approve the individual recommendations listed in the chart in Appendix 1 and detailed in the reports in Appendix 2.
Action by:
Director of Community Services
Economic Policy Grants
During consideration of the individual reports, the following points were made.
ITEC (page 279) – The Principal Economic Policy Officer stated that the organisation would be approached to see if Councillor representation (as observers) would be welcomed.
Foodbanks (page 308) – The Committee noted a tabled report which contained updated information from the organisation.
Resolved
To approve the individual recommendations listed in section 5 of the report.
Action by:
Director of Environment and Planning
01/d/08 PRIORITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES 2001/02
Referring to the Children & Youth PDP,
Councillor Reed stated that the recommended bids for Abbey Youth Strategy Group
(01) and Cherry Hinton and Queen Edith’s Youth Forum (14) would, if approved,
be funding core County Council Community Education responsibilities. Councillor Reed suggested that the funding,
if approved, should be directed to youth participation work within each
project. The Committee agreed that the
Head of Community Development should raise this with the applicants and report
back to Chair and Spokes if the proposal did not prove workable.
In noting that a further £10,000 would be
requested from City Board for The Dec project (04), the Committee agreed that
the enhanced programme for The Dec should be discussed by members at the next
meeting.
The Committee considered the PDP bids for
Health Inequalities and although application 08 from Cambridge YMCA was not
recommended for funding, Councillor Taylor, as a Director of the YMCA and
having a non-pecuniary interest, chose to leave the room during this item.
Resolved (by 8 votes to 0)
For each of the Priority Development Programmes that this Committee is
responsible for (shown in Appendices 1 to 3) it was agreed:
a) To fund projects for 2001/02, as shown in section A of each Appendix.
b) A reserve list of projects will be funded if appropriate resources
become available in 2001/02 as shown in section b of each Appendix.
c)
That the projects listed in section
C of each Appendix will not be funded.
d) That release of funding for projects be dependent upon appropriate
financial checks and adequate performance on the project against criteria
agreed with the organisations
concerned.
e) That should funding become available in 2001/02, officers have delegated
authority (in consultation with Chair and spokes) to take decisions to release
funding to applicants on the reserve list.
For the older people and health inequalities PDP’s agree that any projects on the reserve lists that are not funded in 2001/02 be invited to reapply for the next funding programme. Such applications will be in open competition with any new applications.
Action by:
Director of Community Services
01/d/09 EXTRA PROJECT GRANTS (LEISURE)
Resolved
To continue to offer the programme of project grants with a maximum limit of £1,000 and seek agreement from City Board to carry forward any budget not allocated in 2000/01 into 2000/02
01/d/10 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF
(DRR) 2000/2001
Resolved
The Committee
agreed DRR of 20% for Cyrenians at 21 Sturton Street and Student Community
Action at 10 Pembroke Street. An
application from Harvey Road Day Nursery was refused.
01/d/11 A
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR EAST CHESTERTON – FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROJECT
APPRAISAL
Public question - Lil Speed from East Chesterton Action Group (ECAG) asked whether the ECAG could work with the Council during the development of this project; she also thanked the Committee for the proposal to build a community centre. The Chair in return thanked ECAG for the work that it had undertaken during the development of the proposals. The Chair stated that activities would be developed at Eccho House which would involve fully ECAG whilst the Community Centre itself was in the planning stage.
The Head of
Community Development drew the Committee’s attention to the commentary in 6.6
of the report which indicated that local people would be involved in the
management of the centre and that there would be ongoing involvement of young people.
The Chair
stated the proposal for a community centre had been a Liberal Democrat
manifesto commitment and was pleased to commend it to the Committee.
Councillor Reed
asked whether an additional £40,000 revenue for work in East Chesterton would
be available (to match £80,000 Young People and Mapping Disadvantage PPF Labour
Group bid) as the £40,000 contained in the report would be used for
consultation and other activities (6.6c).
Councillor Reed suggested an additional £40,000 could be used for the
provision of a regular outreach Advice Service and further activities for 7 to
11 year olds.
In answer to
these points, the Chair stated that final budget proposals would be discussed
at City Board on 29 January; that advice agencies could apply through the
grants process to provide an outreach service; and it was expected that the
Childrens Team would continue its work with 7 to 11 year olds in East
Chesterton.
Resolved
1) To approve the Project Appraisal (Appendix A) for the provision of a Youth
and Community Centre in East Chesterton and request City Board to allocate
£1,550,000 for this scheme in the capital plan from 2001/02.
2) To approve the Project Appraisal (Appendix B) for a Community Facilities
Improvement Fund and request City Board to allocate £50,000 in the capital plan
2001/02.
3) To request that City Board agree to provide revenue support for running
costs, development and outreach work associated with the new youth and
community centre in future budget forecasts as set out in section 6.6c.
Action by: Head of Community
Development
01/d/12 REVENUE
BUDGETS 2000/01 (REVISED) 2001/02 (ORIGINAL) AND CAPITAL BIDS
The Chair
proposed the following amendment to the recommendation:
Delete existing
2.1 and replace with:
2.1
i)
Agree changes
to budgets identified in 4.1
ii) Request
City Board, in light of the Government Settlement, be asked to reconsider
savings:
S15 Closure of Sheeps Green Learner Pool
£9,000 ongoing
S13 Pool Weekend Opening Hours
£8,000 ongoing
S7.3 Summer Play Programme £5,000
ongoing
S17 Hanging Basket Sponsorship £13,800 ongoing
(possibly phasing in over 2 years).
S12 Charging for water flumes
£28,000 ongoing.
2.2 Confirm final figures, as amended,
for submission to City Board.
Public questions –
Ms J Reacher and Ms K Colledge asked questions concerning the proposed closure
of Sheeps Green Pool. The Committee
noted that a petition against the proposed closure of the Pool had been
submitted on 24 January. As the
petition had been received less than six working days before Committee it could
not be dealt with under the Council’s Petitions Procedure.
Ms Reacher asked
why local people had not been consulted about the proposed closure and, that
bearing in mind the Pool closure was to be reconsidered, whether a commitment
would be made that it would not close whilst the Council was controlled by the
Liberal Democrat administration. Ms
Colledge asked where families on lower income could swim outside for free if
the Pool closed except in the (unsupervised) River Cam.
The Chair stated
that the decision not to close Sheeps Green Pool had been reported in the
Cambridge Evening News before Christmas, but acknowledged that the Council
should improve the way in which it consults on budget proposals and advised
that City Board on 29 January would be considering resources for this. The Chair stated that she would not commit
the Council to an undertaking not to consider closure of the Pool in future
years, however the Committee was now fully aware of residents views on the matter.
Councillor Reed in
welcoming the Liberal Democrat proposed re-instatements proposed the following
Labour Group amendment:
To ask City Board in light of the Government
Settlement to
Re-instate the following savings:
SO5 Arbury
Adventure Playground – reduce employee costs
£20,000 ongoing
SO7.2 Deletion of Principal CDO post £20,000 ongoing
S11.2 Restructuring of Management Teams at Parkside Pools £52,000 ongoing
Councillor
Talbot addressed the Committee on the item concerning Arbury Adventure
Playground and re-stated his concerns expressed at the last Committee about the
timing of the proposal.
The Committee
approved the Liberal Democrat amendment by 9 votes to 0. The Labour Group amendment was lost by 3
votes to 6.
On the Capital
Plan, Councillor Reed asked for clarification on the money available for indoor
sports provision at Manor, Coleridge and Long Road and what action had been
taken by the Chair to progress this.
Councillor Reed stated that she had asked an oral question at the Council
meeting on 7 December and a written response would have been provided which had
not been the case. The Director of
Finance stated that within the Capital Plan there was the inclusion of £500,000
for Joint-Use Sports Facilities. The
Parks and Recreation Manager advised the Committee that the Council was still
awaiting guidance from Sport England which would inform the Council’s future
approach. The Chair stated that she
would undertake to write to Sport England to try to speed up the process.
Resolved to (by 5 votes to 0)
i)
Agree changes
to budgets identified in 4.1
ii) Request
City Board, in light of the Government Settlement, to reconsider savings:
S15 Closure of Sheeps Green Learner Pool
£9,000 ongoing
S13 Pool Weekend Opening Hours £8,000 ongoing
S7.3 Summer Play Programme £5,000 ongoing
S17 Hanging Basket Sponsorship £13,800 ongoing
(possibly phasing in over 2 years).
S12 Charging for water flumes
£28,000 ongoing.
Confirm the final figures, as
amended, for submission to City Board.
01/d/13 BEST
VALUE PERFORMANCE PLAN : PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND TARGETS 2000/01 AND SERVICE
IMPROVEMENT PLAN MONITORING REPORT
The Committee
noted that a revised appendix A for Economic Development had been tabled (and
is interleaved).
In response to
a question from Councillor Reed concerning the target for 2001/02 for ACI 1a
(page 250 – number of swims), the Policy Officer stated that the lower figure
reflected an anticipated increase in the city’s overall population.
Resolved
a) That City Board confirm the inclusion in the March 2001 Best Value
Performance Plan of the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI’s), Audit
Comission Performance Indicators ( ACPI’s) and local Performance Indicators
(LPI’s) as set out in Appendix A.
b) To agree the targets set against indicators for the year 2001/02.
c)
To approve Service Improvement Plans
for 2001/02.
Action by: Directors of Central Services, Community Services
and Environment & Planning
01/d/14 PROJECT APPRAISAL – CHERRY HINTON RECREATION
GROUND SPORTS PAVILLION
Resolved
To
approve the Project Appraisal.
Action by: Parks and Recreation Manager
01/d/15 AREA BASED DELIVERY OF GROUND MAINTENANCE
AND CLEANING SERVICES
In response to questions, the Director of City Services stated that City Services would take responsibility for day to day improvements to parks and open spaces and be self-monitoring, guidelines would be set by the Parks and Recreation service as the ‘client-side.’
Resolved
To agree that the geographical basis chosen for area based working for ground maintenance and cleaning services be supported.
Action by:
Director of City Services
01/d/16 NOMINATIONS
TO SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES
During discussion on the nominations, the Committee agreed that the schools would in future be advised that the Council would wish to nominate persons residing within the City if at all possible.
Resolved
To nominate to the following Governing Bodies of city schools:
St. Pauls – Mr G Maitland (nomination from the School)
Queen Ediths – Revd Hamilton (nomination from the School)
St Andrews – Jason Yow (Labour nomination. Committee agreed subject to a nomination form being received and passed to the school for comment prior to it being submitted to the Chair for approval).
Action by: Gary
Clift
01/d/17 URGENCY ACTION:OCTOCENTENARY – USE OF
MIDSUMMER COMMON
The Committee noted that
urgency action was taken on 21 November 2000 as reported on the agenda.
01/d/18 URGENT
BUSINESS – CITIZEN’S INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTRE (CIAC) – APPOINTMENT OF
COUNCILLOR SLATTER
With the permission of the
Chair, the Head of Committee Services advised that Councillor Griffiths no
longer wished to be a Council observer on the CIAC with immediate effect. The
Liberal Democrat Group proposed Councillor Slatter in her stead. This
information had not been available prior to agenda despatch, nor three clear
working days, hence the oral report.
Resolved
The Committee agreed that
Councillor Slatter be appointed to CIAC in the place of Councillor Griffiths.
Action by: Gary
Clift
The meeting ended at 6.55pm
CHAIR
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