Minutes 1st June 2009

Minutes of the Leisure and Community Committee of Madeley Parish Council held on Monday, June 1st 2009.

Present:

• Councillors:
  S Taylor (Chair)
  A England
  E Evans
  E Swift
  M Swift
• Clerk to the Council, Deputy Clerk.

L09/01. Apologies for Absence

There were none.

L09/02. Remarks from the Chair

The Chair welcomed members for the 2009/10 Committee term. The resignation from Council of Councillor S Law opened a committee vacancy.

L09/03. Public Discussion Time

No members of the public were preasent.

L09/04. Declarations of Interest

There were none.

L09/05. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Resolved: that the minutes of the previous Committee meeting held on Monday, March 9th 2009 be confirmed and approved.

L09/06. Madeley Living History Project

The Project involves local people in the preservation of Madeley's past and the recording and archiving of the present.

The Deputy Clerk presented the Business Plan report (Appendix A).

• Parish People, Parish Places leaflets

  
  The first of three publications produced by the Living History Project Group was launched. It took place at the Annual Parish Meeting held on May 21st 2009. Subjects were Madeley Amateur Dramatic Society, Major Yate, and Lumley Hall.
  
  

• John Randall Commemoration 2010

  
  Outline organisation of Events and Day School complete.
  John Randall School is co-ordinator and host - noted.

L09/07. Grants

To financially support the activities of disadvantaged groups, which encourages their participation in the wider community.

The Deputy Clerk presented the Business Plan report (Appendix A) - noted.

07.1 Feedback from Previous Recipients

The Deputy Clerk presented a feedback report for Councillors information.

• Woodside Wanderers (funding for referee course - January 2008)
  
  5/6 courses completed.
  Awaiting Referee's Course details for candidates - advised final course booking August 2009.
• Club 2000 (support for Sports Day 2009 - June 2008).
  
  Accounts for Sports Day 2008 received - grant included in carry forward for Sports Day 2009 scheduled for June 6th 2009.
• Telford and Wrekin Community Volunteer Service (CVS) Grassroots endowment fund - March 2009.
  
  Finance and General Purposes Committee had received a presentation from Director of Council for Voluntary Services. This sought, because of the nature of the funding, opinion on power of expenditure. The Clerk to the Council reported that no power had been identified.
• The Guide Association - Wrekin Division (Young Leader training - March 2009).
  
  Acknowledgement outstanding - noted.

07.2 Grant Applications

The Clerk to the Council presented the Business Plan report (Appendix A) - noted.

07.2.1 Jubilee 2 Dance Club (24)- Sound Equipment

Contribution to the social environment and extent of local involvement was acknowledged. The Dance Club had recently undergone a change in organisers that had meant the return of equipment currently on loan. Some match funding had been raised. A discussion took place on the nature of support. It was resolved: that a grant of £300 be awarded to Jubilee 2 Dance Club for new sound equipment.

07.2.2 Telford and Wrekin Council - Children and Young People (C and YP) Involvement Service (25) - Summer Play Schemes

Children and Young Peoples Involvement Service provide play activities for children attending primary schools and junior youth clubs. These are for years 6,7,8. They are based at Sutton Hill Community Centre, Park Lane Centre, the Fletcher Methodist Church, and Haughton School. Madeley Parish Council has supported the play schemes since 1992. The grant will enable off-site activities and family trip as well as additional activities.

Resolved: to award a grant of £1,500 towards the Summer Play Schemes in Madeley organised by Telford and Wrekin Council.

Councillors noted from previous experience the need for accountability.

07.2.3 Connexions4Youth (26) - Graffiti Arts Workshop

Sutton Hill Youth Centre hosts a range of clubs aimed at young people between the ages of 13-19 years. Youth Development Worker is tasked with provision of opportunities for leisure, learning and skills.

Arts workshop will encompass development, planning and skills prior to activity day in August 2009.

Resolved: that a grant of £740 be awarded for engagement of Aunique Art for the Graffiti Arts workshop.

07.2.4 The Gorge Women's Institute (WI) (27) - Members' Outing

The Gorge WI meets regularly in Coalport and has a membership predominantly based in Madeley.
The organisation is aimed at involving women in local and national issues and provides support for local community events.

£300 was requested towards Coach Hire. No application for funding has been received by The Gorge Parish Council (PC). WI activities are principally funded from within the membership.

Grants policy guides applicants toward funding for activities that enhance purpose - it does not exclude transport for group trips.

Resolved: that Madeley Parish Council contributes £150 towards proposed day trip for The Gorge WI in 2009.

07.2.5 Chillcott Activities Group (28) - Printing of monthly newsletter

ExtraCare is a charitable trust providing supported housing schemes. Its mission statement supports enabling people to lead active and enjoyable later lives. Residents at Chillcott Gardens are given the opportunity to partake in an extensive activities programme. There is potential for public access to facilities.

The monthly newsletter was printed black on white A4 paper, double sided, covering 12 pages. This was issued monthly with a circulation of 64 copies. The cost of outsourced production - £325 per annum.

It was considered that ExtraCare 'Village' is funded from residential mixed tenure. It does not qualify as a voluntary group, charitable organisation or agency carrying out community activities.

Councillors observed that the current quality of production of the newsletter would benefit from in-house investment in resource. This would satisfy requirements. It was further commented that approval be a perennial commitment.

The application was denied.

07.2.6 S.T.A.B.L.E. (29) - Brainwave Project

STABLE is a registered charity offering support to people affected by epilepsy through the provision of education and practical advice. It has been established since 2007 and is locally based.

Brainwave is a project to teach primary schoolchildren about epilepsy and its affects. Funding is needed to produce literature for the project - £833.60

Saint (St) Mary's School, Madeley, has offered to pilot the project.

Resolved: that Madeley Parish Council fund the equipment requirement for the Brainwave education packs in the amount of £833.60.

07.2.7 Telford and Wrekin Council - Woodside and Sutton Hill Celebrations - Children's Entertainment

Summer celebrations for Woodside and Sutton Hill Community Centre, organised by Centre managers and scheduled for July 2009.

Madeley Parish Council has been a regular contributor to the estate 'fun days' since 2000 (there is no equivalent for Madeley).

Resolved: that a contribution of £500 is granted toward the cost of children's entertainment.

07.2.8 Sutton Hill Families Project (31) - Summer programme of family activities

Sutton Hill Families Project is parent lead and aims to support families with pre-school children in the local area.

Funding request was for a varied programme of activity days, educational experiences, play sessions, trips and visiting specialists. Parents will contribute to subsidised programme.

Resolved: that a grant of £454 be awarded to Sutton Hill Families Project for the summer activities programme.

07.2.9. Community Health and Enterprise Centre (32) - Anniversary celebration

The Community Health and Enterprise Centre (CHEC) celebrates its 10th Anniversary in September 2009.

CHEC provides community resource promoting health and learning through the Health Shop and Outreach Information Health Assistants. The project is funded by Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust.

The cost of the celebratory event is estimated at £780 for invitations, room hire/refreshments and catering - match funding requested.

It was considered that the event did not particularly benefit the Parish or its residents. However, there was an acknowledgment of the quality of the service offered.

Resolved: that room hire/refreshments at Jubilee House to a value of £71.50 be offered Free of Charge.

07.2.10 Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site Festival Ltd (33) - Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site Festival

Organisation of the Festival has passed from Telford and Wrekin Council to local businessmen and community groups. They are volunteers who have established a company limited by guarantee.

Funding for the annual event has been drastically curtailed with the loss of ERDF and T and WC funding.

Members remained convinced that the event served to promote Ironbridge with no benefit to other areas within the WHS.

Having failed to satisfy grant criteria, the application was denied.

L09/08. Community Events

To work in partnership with other agencies and to involve the community in the planning and organisation of public events.

The Deputy Clerk presented the Business Plan (Appendix A).

• Spring Clean

  
  The Madeley Academy students organised Spring Clean, which was carried out with local primary schools. Supported by the Street Warden, it was a success in terms of both activity and awareness - a considerable achievement.

• Christmas Lights

  
  Madeley Parish Council's application to (Borough Towns Initiative) Community Fund has been successful. Funding of £18,400 was sought for Christmas Lights infrastructure works.
  
  Implementation is dependent upon new Street Lighting Scheme works linked to Madeley Centre redevelopment.
  
  The need to replace Christmas Tree lights with LEDs was noted and approved - noted.

L09/09. Community Groups

To provide or facilitate goods or services as appropriate to identified need.

The Deputy Clerk presented the Business Plan (Appendix A).

• Gardening Scheme

  
  Recommenced April 2009.
  
  

• Madeley Community Orchard

  
  Project Officer providing strategic support for Madeley Community Orchard manager.
  
  

• Shopping Scheme

  
  Advice and information for those in need of support through a Shopping Scheme should be obtained and published.
  
  It was acknowledged that the minor local authority could not manage scheme logistics and delivery.
  
  To ensure that local residents had access to information through promotion, a commitment was identified - noted.

09.1 Sutton Hill Village Green Community

Inaugural minutes of Sutton Hill Village Green Community were circulated to members.

It was argued that the Group were not a 'community group' as such but a single issue campaign group. Information and advice had been offered and taken. Councillors agreed to maintain this level of support - representation was not required.

L09/10. Correspondence

10.1 Telford and Wrekin Council

Home to School Transport Policies - Consultation

The Local Authority has a duty in some cases to support parents/carers with children's transport to school.

There is no proposal to change statutory duties. The proposal is to withdraw discretionary support for all new concessionary home to school transport to denominational schools.

Members expressed that the withdrawal of service was also a withdrawal of choice based on means.

09/11. Information

There was none.

09/12. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Leisure and Community Committee is Monday, September 14th 2009, at 6.30pm.

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.20pm.