Agenda and minutes

The following disclosures were made (all in respect of item 6 on the agenda – Charnwood Grants – Strategic Partners 2022-23 – 2023-24):

(i)         by Councillor Poland – an interest as a Council nominee to Charnwood Equality Action.  He would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

(ii)        by Councillor Bokor – an interest as the Council nominee to John Storer Foundation Management Committee.  She would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

(iii)       by Councillor Barkley – a personal interest in respect of partner Syston Volunteer Centre, as ward councillor, he had no involvement with the organisation.

No announcements were made.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th December 2021 would be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Cabinet for confirmation as a correct record.

The deadline for questions is noon on Wednesday, 5th January 2022. 

No questions had been submitted.

Having declared interests, Councillors Bokor and Poland left the meeting during the consideration of the following item.

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services.

Key Decision

Considered, a report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services setting out proposals for Strategic Partner Grant Scheme funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24 (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Seaton, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented a report setting out the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).

The Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that the following be recommended to the Leader for his decision:

1.      that the following Strategic Partner Grants be approved, subject to budget approval:

2.      that a Strategic Partner Grant of £9,537 for 2022/23 provisional amount be awarded in principle to Syston Volunteer Centre, subject to it continuing to work with the Council and receipt of evidence demonstrating that it has revisited its business plan and is moving towards further community engagement/ volunteering activities by the end of March 2022, and that the Head of Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, to determine the most appropriate way forward, including the reallocation of funding to other Strategic Partners if Syston Volunteer Centre is not able to meet those conditions;

3.      that the Head of Neighbourhood Services be given delegated authority to finalise the terms and conditions of the Strategic Partner Grants awarded and Service Level Agreements;

4.      that it be noted that Clockwise Credit Union did not apply for a Strategic Partner Grant for 2022/23 – 2023/24 and that the amounts set out in recommendations 1 and 2 in the report include the redistribution of the £7,883 that Clockwise Credit Union were invited to apply for between the remaining Strategic Partners;

5.      that the report of the Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Reasons

1.      To provide appropriate levels of financial support to those organisations that have submitted applications and been assessed as meeting the criteria for the Strategic Partner Grant Scheme.

2.      To ensure that the organisation is developing and progressing before any funding is awarded.

3.      To enable the grants awarded to be finalised with an approved Service Level Agreement and appropriate information to be supplied to the Council about the outcomes of the projects/services and determine final grant award amounts.

4.      To clarify the way in which the funding previously provided to Clockwise Credit Union will be used.

5.      To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the views of the Scrutiny Commission.

Councillors Bokor and Poland returned to the meeting.

It is recommended that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that the meeting was no longer being livestreamed.

An exempt report of the Head of Leisure and Culture circulated to members.

Notification was given on 15th December 2021 that the public could potentially be excluded during this item since exempt or confidential information could be considered.  No representations regarding considering this item in exempt session have been received.

Key Decision

Considered, an exempt report of the Head of Leisure and Culture proposing a 5-year contract extension with Fusion-Lifestyle to allow the Council  to take full advantage of capital investment from Fusion and a higher management fee than that which would be delivered through a 2-year extension of contract that was approved by Cabinet on 11th March 2021 (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Councillor Seaton, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, presented an exempt report setting out the Commission’s pre-decision scrutiny of the matter and recommendation (copy filed with these minutes).

The Scrutiny Commission was thanked for its pre-decision scrutiny of reports to this meeting.

The Head of Leisure and Culture and the Leisure Contract and Business Manager assisted with consideration of the report.

RESOLVED that the following be recommended to the Leader for his decision:

1.         that decisions be made as detailed in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 73E 2021/22);

2.      that the exempt report of the Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Reasons

1.         As set out in the exempt minute (Cabinet Minute 73E 2021/22).

2.         To acknowledge the work undertaken by and the views of the Scrutiny Commission.