Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Alderman Alison Gowman declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in respect of the lapsed application from the Wesley Chapel.

Ray Catt declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in respect to the application from the

Saracens Sport Foundation.

To appoint the Committee and approve its Terms of Reference.

The Committee received an Order of the Court of Common Council of 25 April 2013 appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference.

Matters Arising

A Member referred to the difference between the wording in the Trust’s handbook for Members and the wording in the Committee’s Terms of Reference under sub section (b) (iii) which had been referred to at the Committee’s meeting in January. It was noted that it was now necessary to amend the Terms of Reference to reflect the changes in the Trust’s handbook.

It was also noted that, whilst the Chairman and Deputy Chairman had been involved in the recent appointment process for the Chief Grants Officer, the Terms of Reference did not currently provide for this therefore steps should be taken to achieve this for the future.

RESOLVED – That it be recommended to the Court of Common Council that, when they next consider the Committee’s Terms of Reference,

a)    Subsection (b) (iii) be amended to read: 

“In considering the application of surplus income in accordance with clause 2 of the

said Scheme, the Trustee shall consult with such persons, bodies corporate, local

authorities, government departments and agencies, charities, voluntary

organisations and other bodies as the Trustee may think appropriate from time to

time.”

b)    A subsection (c) be added as follows:-

“To be involved in the process for the appointment of the Chief Grants Officer, as appropriate

To elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No.29.

The Town Clerk read a list of Members eligible to stand and Deputy Billy Dove, being the

only Member who expressed his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chairman of the

Committee for the ensuing year.

NEW MEMBERS

The Chairman took the opportunity to welcome  Alderman Matthew Richardson, Simon Duckworth, Stuart Fraser and Marianne Fredericks to their first meeting of the Committee and also took the opportunity to thank past Deputy Chairman Wendy Mead, Alderman Peter Hewitt and Deputy Joyce Nash for their contributions over past years.

To elect a Deputy Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to stand was read, and Deputy Ken Ayers, Alderman Alison Gowman, Deputy Edward Lord and Jeremy Mayhew declared their willingness to serve, if elected.

A ballot having been taken, votes were cast as follows:-

Deputy Ken Ayers                              1 vote

Alderman Alison Gowman                  3 votes

Deputy Edward Lord                           3 votes

Jeremy Mayhew                                 6 votes

A second ballot being required, as the second and third place candidate had received an equal number of votes, as follows:-

Alderman Alison Gowman                  6 votes

Deputy Edward Lord                           7 votes

A third ballot to elect the Deputy Chairman was taken as follows:-

Deputy Edward Lord                           5 votes

Jeremy Mayhew                                 8 votes

RESOLVED That - Jeremy Mayhew be duly elected as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 18 April 2013.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 18 April 2013 were agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED: - That the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk identifying those items raised at meetings of the Committee that required further action by officers.

It was resolved that future Reports of Outstanding Items include corresponding dates for information awaited.

RECEIVED.

To receive a progress report of the Chief Grants Officer (copy attached).

The Committee received the regular progress report of the Chief Grants Officer.

It was agreed that Officers would circulate to Members the outline, draft, Quinquennial

Review document that had recently been sent to Senior Officers.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

To consider the Chief Grants Officer’s reports on grant recommendations, as follows (copies attached):-

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer recommending grants to

organisations.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer recommending fourteen grant applications in the Working with Londoners programme be rejected for the reasons identified in the schedule attached to the report.

A Member suggested that officers should speak to one project recommended for rejection, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps), to advise them that they may wish to apply to other funds within the City Corporation.

RESOLVED: That the grant applications be rejected.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer detailing one application that has lapsed.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer advising Members of a variation to one grant agreed by the Chief Grants Officer since the last meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer advising members of two grants, totalling £30,060, which had been approved under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Committee as follows:

·           Ataxia UK - £24,000 for one year for a Branch and Support Group Development Manager (17.5 hours per week) preparing information resources and training volunteers to provide support to Londoners with ataxia. The award conditional on the balance of funding being raised.

·           CareNet - £6,060 for on year’s support of a Project Co-ordinator (1 dpw) and associated project costs.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

In regard to a query on the financial assessment of applications under Delegated Authority it was agreed that, for these, there would be no automatic reference to the Chamberlain, rather that this would remain within the discretion of Officers of the Trust.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer relative to two visits that had been undertaken.

It was agreed that Members are encouraged to attend monitoring visits with Officers. Officers are to distribute a list of upcoming visits that Members can attend.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive an update report of the Chief Grants Officer.

Get Young People Working – The Youth Offer At the request of a Member Officers agreed to give a progress report at the next meeting on grants previously approved under this scheme.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted and that a grant of £100,000 to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets be approved towards a programme targeting young people furthest away from the labour market, including those whose NEET status is unknown. The award is conditional on the voluntary sector partner meeting the Trust’s approval.

There were no urgent questions.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED: - That under Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2013.

RESOLVED: That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2013 be approved as an accurate record.

There was one question concerning the size of Committee papers.

There were no items of urgent business.