Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Taylor.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2014.

It was moved by Councillor Witherford, seconded by Councillor Nichols and

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2014 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

No interests were declared at this stage.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Direction).

The committee was presented with the proposed revenue budget and council tax precept for 2015/16 for the special expenses area of Hinckley prior to consideration by Council.

A member asked if the £25,000 contribution to car parks in Hinckley was still realistic due to the reduction in the number of car parks. In response it was confirmed that the figure was still required. It was noted that in future car parking in the town centre may have to be reviewed depending on the uptake of the proposed free parking on the Crescent site. Concern was also expressed that the car park near Holliers Walk School would be underused if the school moved premises so this would need to be reviewed.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Hodgkins and

RESOLVED – the revenue budget and council tax for 2015/16 for the special expenses area of Hinckley be endorsed and RECOMMENDED to Council.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

The Committee was presented with an update on the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund which was in its first year, along with information on grant applications for approval. Members were disappointed that, despite issuing a press release, using the HBBC website and sending out letters to over a hundred community groups, only three applications had been received, and two of those had been subsequently withdrawn.

A member stated that the Voluntary & Community Sector Commissioning Board had been oversubscribed with regard to grant applications and it was suggested that HBBC creates a link with the VCS and asks them to make applicants aware of the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund. Members discussed this suggestion at some length and agreed that officers should be asked to commence exploratory discussions with the VCS. A member also suggested contacting Next Generation as they had contacts for more community groups who may wish to apply for funding.

Members were extremely concerned to hear that the budget for the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund in 2015/16 had been removed and therefore a supplementary budget would be required to fund the £419, should members approve the one remaining application. The committee asked that the budget be reinstated as originally agreed. It was also requested that applications for funding be received continuously throughout the year with the only cut-off date being the end of the financial year in order to encourage applications with the decision on applications being delegated to the Strategic Leadership Board in order to process them in a timely manner.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Witherford and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The application for funding of £419 from the Hinckley Community Initiative Fund be approved;

(ii)           The Hinckley Community Initiative Fund budget be reinstated at the originally agreed amount of £20,000;

(iii)          Applications for funding be received throughout the financial year rather than to an in-year deadline;

(iv)         Officers be recommended to look into working with the VCS Commissioning Board to link with community groups who have made applications to them for funding and to contact Next Generation for details of community groups.

The Committee is asked to nominate a member to sit on a working group regarding Dog Control Orders on HBBC land.

It was reported that a working group was being set up to look at introducing dog control orders on council-owned land and that a member from the Hinckley area was required to sit on the group, along with Councillor Crooks as Executive Member. Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Nichols, moved that Councillor Hodgkins should sit on the group. The Committee accepted this proposal and it was

RESOLVED – Councillor Hodgkins sit on the working group as representative of the Hinckley wards.