Agenda item

The following matters were raised:-

A Member questioned whether a mechanism for managing requests for financial assistance towards projects from external sources could be developed to avoid several approaches being made to the same source. The Chairman advised that arrangements were in place for approaches to the National Heritage Lottery Fund but not for those made in other areas. The issue had been raised at the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee earlier and officers have been asked to look into the matter with the intention of one officer having oversight and avoiding one project being jeopardised by another. This would be for large bids only.

In answer to a question on whether the City Corporation was satisfied with its current safeguarding procedures, the Town Clerk confirmed that he was. A further review would nevertheless be undertaken once the new Director of Community and Children’s Services arrived. The Town Clerk reminded Members that various elements of the City Corporation’s safeguarding activities had been Ofsted tested and that one area of activity in particular, the City and Hackney Safeguarding Board, was the only outstanding Board in the Country.