Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ann Holmes, Deputy Edward Lord and Deputy Billy Dove.

The following declarations were received –

John Scott declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 8 (City of London Symphonia) by virtue of having received hospitality from the applicant.

Deputy John Barker declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 8 by virtue of being a Friend of Wilton’s Music Hall.

Kevin Everett declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 8 (Wilton’s Music Hall) by virtue of having received hospitality from the applicant.

Wendy Hyde declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 8.

Tom Hoffman declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item8.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2012 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2012 were confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk setting out the guidelines to be observed when considering the application for grants (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received the guidelines to be observed by the Grants Sub Committee.

Application assessments

A Member sought further information on the checks which are applied to applicants in respect of integrity and sound governance.

The Independent Grants Assessor explained that an essential part of her recommendations was to look at the degree of confidence in applicants to have a proven ability to carry out the initiative that they were seeking funding towards. She reassured Members that she followed best practice when testing the soundness of organisations from a financial as well as a governance perspective.  The assessor often complemented her evaluations by taking up references about the integrity of applicants, where appropriate.

There were no items of urgent 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 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows: -

Item No.                                                          Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

MATTERS CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC WERE EXCLUDED

Report of the Chamberlain (copy attached).

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain outlining applications for Finance committee assistance received since the last meeting.

RESOLVED – That: -

i)              The following applications be agreed to and that they be funded from the City Educational Trust Fund:-

City of London Symphonia

A one-off grant of £5000 towards the costs of a project with young children in Tower Hamlets. 

Wilton’s Music Hall

A one-off grant of £25,000 towards the capital costs for a major refurbishment and renovation project.  This grant should be subject to Wilton’s being successful in their bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

ii)             The following applications be not agreed to: -

Christ Church Spitalfields

That no contribution be awarded to meet the costs of twelve free monthly lunchtime concerts as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds.

City Year

That no contribution be awarded towards the costs of volunteers to provide citizen services in London for one year as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds.

Providence Row

That no capital grant contribution be awarded towards a new garden as this was not considered to be the most appropriate use of funds.

Barbican Centre Trust

That no contribution be made towards the cost of the ‘On the doorstep: The EC1 Neighbourhood Songwriting Project’. However, the Sub Committee were supportive of the Barbican's commitment to undertake intensive work with its immediate neighbours and strengthen and consolidate relations with them.  The Sub-Committee agreed to ask the Barbican Centre Trust how they might direct some of its current funding from the City of London towards work with the schools and community organisations described in the application.

Report of the Chamberlain (copy attached).

Consideration was given to a report of the Chamberlain which provided details of the grants that had been agreed by the Finance Committee, Policy and Resources Committee, the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund, the City Educational Trust Fund and the Combined Relief of Poverty Charity between April 2008 and March 2013.  Excluded were grants agreed by the Economic Development Unit and The City Bridge Trust Committee. 

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

Consideration was given to a report of the Town Clerk which provided Members with information on those organisations that had been awarded grants by the Finance Grants Sub Committee.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.