Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Cope and J Crooks.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2023.

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January be approved as a correct record.

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council's code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.  This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

No interests were declared.

To provide an update on work undertaken in relation to children and young people.

Members received a presentation from a member of the Youth Forum who updated on recent projects including food banks and warm spaces. The meeting was also informed of other activities undertaken in partnership with schools, outreach work and safeguarding.

Members acknowledged the importance of the work of the Community Safety team and the positive actions that have resulted from its work. It was noted that whilst many of the activities were not statutory, it was important that they continue despite tighter resources.

The report was endorsed.

To update members on the voluntary & community sector partnership arrangements anad activities and the commissioning programme for October 2021 to March 2022.

The Scrutiny Commission received an update on the voluntary & community sector (VCS) partnership. Members felt that the work of the VCS and the partnership with the authority had a great impact. It was again noted that the council’s support for the VCS was not a statutory requirement but added value to the sector for the benefit of Hinckley & Bosworth residents.

Members paid tribute to Edwina Grant who would soon be leaving the authority after 15 years and had led the partnership since its inception.

It was suggested that the added value of the VCS be calculated to demonstrate the benefits provided.

The report was endorsed.

To recommend the allocation of the parish & community initiative fund and Hinckley community initiative fund 2023/24.

Since preparation of the report, the application from Cadeby Community Trust has been withdrawn. The result of this is that the funding allocation at 2.1 of the report will be reduced to £78,383.

Consideration was given to the recommended allocation of the Parish and Community Initiative Fund. It was noted that the application from Cadeby had been withdrawn.

It was requested that the scoring system by clearly communicated to the parish councils and that regular deadline reminders be sent.

Concern was expressed that some funding remained unallocated and following discussion it was requested that it be rolled over to the following year. It was explained that the forthcoming review would consider whether any aspect of the scheme or criteria should be changed.

RESOLVED –

(i)            SLT be RECOMMENDED to approve the funding allocations outlined in the report;

(ii)          The recommendation to review the scheme be endorsed;

(iii)         SLT be RECOMMENDED to allow the eight schemes from the previous year to be funded and completed.

Items of business announced under item 3.

It being Councillor Lay’s last meeting as chair, having chaired the Scrutiny Commission since it was constituted in 2003, he spoke about the valuable work of the overview & scrutiny function and the importance of having a non-political forum for open dialogue. He thanked the current and former chief executives and other officers for their support. The vice chairs and members thanked Councillor Lay for his hard work, leadership and fairness.