Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Jeanette Matelot and Paul Harrison.

Imran Lokhon declared a potential interest in the application from South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA) as he had delivered business training for them previously.

Stefan Gawrysiak declared a potential interest in the application from NOMAD as a member of a fundraising team for the organisation.  He also declared a potential interest for The Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children as a former board trustee.

Richard Pullen declared a potential interest in the application from the Earth Trust, having been associated with events run by the organisation.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2016 (attached)

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 04 October 2016 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman signs them as such.

The officers presented their reports detailing the applications from each project and gave provisional scores, recommended grants and an explanation of the project and how they meet the South Oxfordshire District Council Revenue Grants Policy from 2017/8 to 2020/21.

The panel heard addresses from representatives of the applicants and were given the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.

LIFE 2009

Lucie Scurlock and a senior support worker spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

South and Vale Carers Centre

John Tabor spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Riverside Counselling Service

Becky Saunders spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel and officers.

Community First Oxfordshire

Toby Warren spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

AgeUK Oxfordshire

Penny Fulis and Ruth Swift, Head of Community Development, spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

TRAIN

Brian McNamee and Alice Dore spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Nomad Youth and Community Project

Sue Prior and Tim Prior spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Style Acre

Chris Ingram and Philippa Stannard spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Henley Rowing Club

No speaker represented the organisation.  The panel received an email which was considered at the decision stage.

Thomley

Warren Koehler spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre

Lisa Ward spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

My Life My Choice

Bryan Michell and Shaun Picken spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA)

Tim Kennell spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Berinsfield Information and Volunteer Centre

Pam Brenan spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire

Colin Campbell spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

The Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children

Jen Ainsley spoke in support of the application and was available for questions.

Oxfordshire Association for the Blind

Laura Howdill and Ana Novakovic spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

RESTORE

Martin Realey spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

A2Dominion Housing Group Ltd

Michelle Charlesworth and Olivia Walls spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

Earth Trust

No speaker represented the organisation.

Fish Volunteer Centre

Clive Mills and Geoff Ward spoke in support of the application and received questions from the panel.

The panel will review and amend officer scores as necessary.

The panel considered the applications, taking into account the report of the grants officer on each application and the presentations from the registered public speakers.

Using the scoring matrix set out in the policy, the grant officer’s provisional scores and any additional information received at the meeting, the panel awarded scores for each application.

After discussion and advice from officers where appropriate, the panel agreed that the officer’s scores were fair.  The grants officer’s recommended scores for all applications was adopted.

RESOLVED: to recommend the Cabinet member for Grants accepts the officer’s suggested scores for each project.

The panel will finalise award recommendations for the consideration of the Cabinet member for grants.

Having confirmed the score recommendations, the panel discussed the amount of grants that should be awarded to each project.  After deliberation, they concluded that the award recommendations suggested by officers were appropriate in every case and confirmed their recommendation to the Cabinet member is to award grants in line with the officer’s report.  All the information is contained in the agenda pack for this meeting.

RESOLVED: to recommend that the Cabinet member for grants makes the following awards subject to Council making budget provision in the 2017/18 budget: