Issue - meetings

To inform the Scrutiny Commission of funding requests and seek recommendation for allocations of funding.

The Scrutiny Commission received a report regarding the allocation of funding from the Developing Communities Fund.

RESOLVED – the following funding allocations be supported as per the recommendation:

(i)            Sport in Desford: £234,000;

(ii)           All Saints Church, Sheepy Magna: £57,000;

(iii)          Barlestone: £139,000 (conditional grant).

To request Scrutiny Commission endorse the allocation of funding from the Developing Communities Fund to projects in Market Bosworth and Markfield.

Councillor Lay reiterated his personal interest, for which he had been granted a dispensation.

The Scrutiny Commission was appraised of two schemes assessed in accordance with the agreed criteria for the Developing Communities Fund.

Concern was expressed in relation to the proposed scheme in Market Bosworth (market place redevelopment) due to the early stage of the project, the need for highway works, the poor traffic control plan as indicated, and the ongoing issue of the use of the land which had been maintained by the parish council for many years, but others claimed to have a right over the land.

Officers agreed to look into the matter prior to proceeding with the funding and to update members at the following meeting.

Members were supportive of the funding for the scheme in Markfield (community park).

RESOLVED –

(i)            The application from Market Bosworth Parish Council be not supported at this time;

(ii)           The application from Markfield Parish Council be supported.

To seek approval of the delivery of the Developing Communities Fund, the eligibility of projects, the evaluation criteria and process.

This was considered by the Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 8 February and an extract from the minutes of that meeting is attached.

A report was presented which sought approval of the delivery of the Developing Communities Fund, the eligibility of projects and the evaluation criteria and process.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         Some members expressed disappointment that there were community groups and facilities in Hinckley that would benefit from being able to access this fund, yet were not eligible as the fund was only available to the parished areas.

·         A member expressed concern that only those parishes subject to development were eligible and felt that this may disadvantage the smaller villages

·         It was requested that a briefing be arranged for clerks to explain the processes

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the short deadline and also the time limit on drawing down the funding

·         The significant funding received in the Hinckley area over recent years was raised, and many felt that this initiative went some way to rebalance investment in our communities

·         Assurance was sought and provided over flexibility on the tight deadlines which would be addressed through the delegation arrangements.

The fund was, however, generally welcomed for the parished areas.

At this juncture, advice was sought in relation to the need for those members who were also parish councillors to declare an interest in this item. As a result, Councillors Bray, Camamile, Crooks, Hall, Hollick, Lay, Lynch, Nickerson, O’Shea, Roberts, Rooney, Wallace and Williams declared a personal interest in this item.

It was moved by Councillor Morrell, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The Developing Communities Fund, eligibility of projects, the evaluation criteria and process be approved;

(ii)           The Director (Environment & Planning) in consultation with the Executive members for rural and urban communities be delegated to implement the fund.

To seek the views of the Scrutiny Commission on the delivery of the Developing Communities Fund.

The Scrutiny Commission gave consideration to the delivery of the Developing Communities Fund (DCF) including the criteria, process and amount of funding available for each project.

Following discussion whereby various options were considered, it was moved by Councillor Lay and seconded by Councillor Camamile that:

“(i)        The following eligibility criteria be recommended to Council:

(a)  The minimum project size of £30,000;

(b)  The minimum parish contribution be set at 35% (irrespective of housing growth or council tax level);

(c)  The parish must be committed to a neighbourhood plan;

(d)  No funding for highways improvements;

(e)  Must meet HBBC corporate plan priorities;

(f)   No more than one project to be funded per parish;

(g)  Projects must be completed within three years of an offer being made;

(h)  Only those projects submitted as an expression of interest in December 2016 are eligible for application to the fund at this stage.

(ii)        The maximum contribution from the council to any bid be set at £350,000;

(iii)       The suggestion be included in documentation that parishes can join together to submit a bid. This would ensure smaller parishes are not disadvantaged by the set minimum project size.”

Councillors Bill and Lynch wished it to be recorded that they felt the fund should be available to the Hinckley area as Hinckley residents had contributed to the fund and found it unfair that Hinckley residents would not benefit from capital projects under the fund. In response, some members felt that over several years, Hinckley had benefited from a great deal of capital investment funded by the borough but not for the benefit of residents across the whole borough and that the criteria for the DCF was fair.

On the motion of Councillor Lay, seconded by Councillor Camamile, it was

RESOLVED – the following be RECOMMENDED to Council:

(i)         The fund size be set at a maximum of £1,400,000 for applications to the DCF;

(ii)        The following eligibility criteria be established:

(a)          The minimum project size of £30,000;

(b)          The minimum parish contribution be set at 35% (irrespective of housing growth or council tax level);

(c)          The parish must be committed to a neighbourhood plan;

(d)          No funding for highways improvements;

(e)          Must meet HBBC corporate plan priorities;

(f)           No more than one project to be funded per parish;

(g)          Projects must be completed within three years of an offer being made;

(h)          Only those projects submitted as an expression of interest in December 2016 are eligible for application to the fund at this stage.

(iii)       The maximum contribution from the council to any bid be set at £350,000;

(iv)       The suggestion be included in documentation that parishes can join together to submit a bid to the DCF.

Councillors Crooks and Morrell left the meeting at 8.25pm.