Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

The Chairman took the opportunity to pay tribute to Deputy Joyce Nash who was not re-standing for election to the City Bridge Trust Committee due to the limit of serving on eight City Corporation Committees at any one time.

Deputy Nash wished all the Committee Members well, particularly the Chairman who was about to enter the final year of his term.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 13 February 2013.

RESOLVED: That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 13 February 2013 be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk identifying those items raised at meetings of the Committee that required further action by Officers, noting that:-

·         the Chairman had now spoken with the Town Clerk about the process for appointing a successor to the Chief Grants Officer with a view to formalising the Committee’s involvement in any future appointments within the terms of reference   

·         the 2011/12 signed accounts for ‘Camden Carers’ had now been received.

RECEIVED

To receive a progress report of the Chief Grants Officer.

The Committee considered the regular Progress Report of the Chief Grants Officer.

RECEIVED

To receive an update report of the Chief Grants Officer.

The Chief Grants Officer outlined the report on ‘Get London Working - The Youth Offer’ and informed Members that:-

·         the initiative had been very well received due to its flexibility

·         all 32 London Boroughs  had submitted an application for funding under the scheme. 26 Boroughs were recommended for funding at this meeting with the remaining 6 Boroughs due for consideration at the next meeting.

One Member questioned the way each of these very diverse approaches could be evaluated for success and was advised that the diversity did make it difficult to measure against each other but the evaluation would take account of other programmes such as the ‘Work Programme’ and the ‘ESF Programme’. Also, it was this diverse approach that meant the projects could tackle specific issues rather than applying a ‘one-size-fits-all approach.

RESOLVED: That all individual grant recommendations submitted to this meeting under Get London Working – The Youth Offer be approved.

To consider the Chief Grants Officer’s reports on grant recommendations as follows:-

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer, introducing the grants programmes.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

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

During consideration of the applications before the Committee, the following comments were made by Members and relevant Officers:

·         With regards to the application at Annex 1 (Markfield Project), one Member noted that the lease/rental agreement was currently under negotiation and was advised that these negotiations are nearly complete and were expected to be resolved imminently.

·         With regards to the application at Annex 4 (British Muslims for Secular Democracy), a Member acknowledged the excellent aims of the project but noted some concerns as to the deficit in the accounts for the previous year. The Chamberlain advised that in reviewing the organisation’s finances there was a projected surplus for the coming year along with strong reserves so this should not overly concern Members.

·         With regards to the application at Annex 13 (CREATE London), Members were advised that the Barbican Centre were fully aware of this initiative given their role as a strategic partner.

RESOLVED: That the following grants be approved:-

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer recommending 29 grant applications in the Working with Londoners programme be rejected for the reasons identified in the schedule attached to the report.

RESOLVED: That the grant applications detailed in the schedule attached to the report be rejected.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer detailing 11 applications that had been withdrawn.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer advising Members of variations to 9 grants 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 five grants, totalling £99,810, which had been approved under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Committee as follows:

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Grants Officer relating to monitoring visits that had been undertaken for:

·         Pesticide Action Network UK

·         Fine Cell Work

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of Economic Development.

Members considered a report on the Expansion of City Careers Open House programme, noting that satisfactory accounts had now been received.

One Member highlighted a similar ‘Evening Standard’ campaign and was advised that the Public Relations Office was looking at whether this was better as a standalone initiative or if it might be possible to integrate it into that programme.

RESOLVED: That a grant of £280,000 be approved for the costs of expanding the City Careers Open House programme subject to a satisfactory financial assessment of the grant recipient by the Chamberlain. The grant is conditional on the Policy & Resources Committee approving this approach and agreeing to an uplift of £280,000 to the City Bridge Trust grants budget for 2013/14, to be met from the revenue surplus in Bridge House Estates.

Report of the Chief Grants Officer.

The Committee considered the business plan, noting that it would need to review it again when the strategic objectives are published later in the year following the Quinquennial Review.

Members were also keen to understand the meaning of ‘Independence’ (as per the mission statement at section 1c of the business plan) particularly regarding the Trust’s relationship with the City Corporation. It was agreed that this would be explored further at the next Resource Allocations Sub-Committee away-day.

RESOLVED: To endorse the business plan, subject to a full review when the revised strategic objectives are published later in the year and the addition of the financial context in reference to a potential fraud.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

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 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 as follows:-

Item Nos.                                                        Exempt Paragraphs

14-15                                                                           3

16-17                                                                           N/A

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2013.

RESOLVED: That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2013 be approved as an accurate record.

MATTERS ARISING: The Committee were updated on an on-going fraud investigation.

Report of the Chief Grants Officer.

The Committee considered a report on the Quinquennial review - consultation findings.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

There was no other business.