Issue - meetings

To consider the head of economy, leisure and property’s report. 

Elizabeth Gillespie reported that she was chairman of the local action group involved in the Oxfordshire LEADER programme but was not the council’s representative.  Therefore, she declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the Oxfordshire LEADER programme item. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of economy, leisure and property.  This set out details of the Oxfordshire LEADER (the ‘Liaisons Enter Actions de Developpement de L’Economie Rurale’ or ‘Links between actions for the development of the rural economy’) programme, and sought agreement in respect of the financial and legal implications of the project on the council. 

David Turner, chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, reported that he was content with the proposal but questioned whether, by hosting staff administering this project, the council had a better chance of receiving funding than other district councils.  In response, officers reported that this was not the intention.  The council would be the accountable body and would not allocate grant funding.  Grants would be awarded by the local action group. 

Cabinet considered that this would benefit the district and its rural communities, encouraging economic growth in villages resulting in more local employment and less travelling.  Therefore Cabinet supported the project by agreeing to the council being the accountable body.  The officer reported that Oxfordshire’s bid had been successful but the start date or the actual sums involved were unknown at this stage. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)               agree to the council taking on the role of accountable body for the Oxfordshire LEADER programme, to include the hosting of staff associated with the programme, and

(b)               authorise the head of economy, leisure and property to carry out the day-to-day management of this role.