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PRESENT: Councillors Christine Bateson (Chairman), Clive Bullock and Philip Love.

Officers: Harriet Baldwin, Liz Hornby and Harjit Hunjan.

20/11 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None were received.

21/11 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Bullock – Declared a Personal and Prejudicial interest in the CG2000 item due to being involved in the committee for the organisation.

Councillor Love – Declared a Personal interest in the Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau item due to being a Council appointed representative.

22/11 APPLICATION FOR BIG SOCIETY PROJECTS LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT FUNDING

Members noted the applications for funding that had been received.

Application from CATS Young People’s Project

Members considered an application for £1,900 of funding from the CATS Young People’s Project and noted that it would support young adults on the autistic spectrum for the opportunity to access volunteer opportunities which, it was hoped, would improve their chances of obtaining future employment. The Panel expressed some concern over whether the funding would be allocated entirely to Royal Borough residents and what involvement the church had with the scheme. Members agreed that the scheme met the following Big Society criteria:

1) increase volunteering
2) putting in place a community projects.

After a short discussion it was agreed to award £1,000.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award CATS Young People’s Project £1,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from CG2000

Members considered an application for £1,000 of funding from CG2000. Members noted that this was to organise a Diamond Jubilee Party for the residents of Cox Green on Brill Green which built on the success of events around the Royal Wedding and the 2000 Millennium celebrations. Members agreed that the scheme met the following Big Society criteria:

1) increase volunteering
2) putting in place a community projects

After a short discussion it was agreed to award £1,000.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award CG2000 £1,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from Community Savings and Loans – Berkshire Credit Union

Members considered an application for £11,800 of funding for Community Savings and Loans – Berkshire Credit Union and noted that this project was to undertake further development and marketing work to enhance and extend the work of the Credit Union. Proposals included the design and production of leaflets and posters, together with incentive schemes to attract new members; to redesign the website and training courses for volunteers. Members noted that the organisation covered all six unitary authorities. Members agreed that the scheme met the following Big Society criteria:

1) increase volunteering
2) putting in place a community project

The Panel noted that the organisation was web-based although it did hold ‘surgeries’ in Maidenhead on a regular basis. However, the Panel raised some concern that no ‘outreach’ service was being provided to cover other areas of the Royal Borough and recommended that any funding allocated be put towards setting up an outreach service. The Panel agreed to award £5,000 on the understanding that a short report be provided to provide proof that some funding was being put towards an outreach service and that the entire funding was being allocated entirely to Royal Borough residents.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award Community Savings and Loans – Berkshire Credit Union £5,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from Eton Community Association

Members considered an application for £3,000 of funding for Eton Community Association and noted that the application was to assist in developing a community newsletter, to develop volunteer groups to help with regular litter collections from open spaces, footpaths, towpaths etc. It would also assist in training for volunteers and develop other community projects which would include a Diamond Jubilee Street Party for 600 local residents. Members agreed that the scheme met the following Big Society criteria:

1) increase volunteering
2) putting in place a community project

After a short discussion, the Panel agreed to fund £2,000 of the LAA funding for the Diamond Jubilee Street Party and to help develop the community newsletter. However, in reference to litter picking, they recommended that the Eton Community Association be advised to join the Adopt A Street scheme, whereby they would be given advice and equipment to assist them with this endeavour. They also recommended that the Association approached local businesses to sell advertising space in their newsletter which, in turn, would help with production costs.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award Community Savings and Loans – Berkshire Credit Union £2,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from Knowl Hill Association Village Committee

Members considered an application for £2,000 of funding for Knowl Hill Association Village Committee and noted that this project was to organise a Diamond Jubilee celebration for the local community, therefore engaging local volunteers and would foster participation. Members agreed that the project met with the following Big Society Criteria –

1) increase volunteering
2) putting in place a community project

Members agreed an amount of £2,000 be awarded.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award Knowl Hill Association Village Committee £2,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau

Members considered an application for £6,775 of funding for Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau and noted that the project was to recruit local IT skilled volunteers to work with less skilled Royal Borough residents to access the internet and become computer literate. The project planned to use 16 volunteers to work with over 1,000 clients over 400 volunteer sessions. They noted that the project met with two of the five Big Society criteria –

1) increase volunteering;
2) putting in place a community project

The Panel agreed to fund £5,000 of Big Society LAA funding although some concern was raised that the Bureau was not reaching out to other areas of the Royal Borough, in particular the Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill areas.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau £5,000 of Big Society LAA funding.

Application from Maidenhead Town Carnival

Members considered an application for £5,000 of funding for the Maidenhead Town Carnival and noted that the project was to work with local voluntary and community sector groups and with local people to increase local engagement with the carnival, providing more opportunities for local people to be involved. Members agreed that the project met with the following Big Society Criteria –

1) increase volunteering
2) develop and put in place a community project

The Panel raised some concern in relation to where other funding was being allocated from. They were aware that the Maidenhead Town Carnival was awarded £3,500 from the RBWM/’3’ Grant Fund in January 2012. However, the Panel raised concern that they had been awarded over £10,000 in past years and wondered whether such funding would be attained this year, but from other sources.

After a short discussion, the Panel agreed to fund £5,000 to Maidenhead Town Carnival subject to a confirmation of how much funding the Royal Borough had allocated for this year’s event. The Panel agreed that once this information had been got, they be emailed for their information and clarification.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award Maidenhead Town Carnival £5,000 of Big Society LAA funding subject to confirmation of how much funding had been allocated by the Royal Borough.

Application from New Neighbours

Members considered an application for £250 of funding for the New Neighbours and noted that the project was to provide information for new residents to the Royal Borough (covering areas including Maidenhead, Cookham, Holyport, White Waltham). Members agreed this project met all five Big Society Criteria –

1) increase volunteering
2) develop and put in place a community project

The Panel agreed to fund £250 subject to clarification that the organisation was not wholly commercial and that if the organisations was proved to be wholly commercial then no award should be made.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended to award New Neighbours £250 of Big Society LAA funding subject to clarification that the organisation was not wholly commercial.

Application from Pete’s Farm

Members considered an application for £18,000 of funding for the Pete’s Farm and noted that this was a Capital bid and therefore recommended that the organisation be advised to resubmit an application for a Capital Grant to the Grants Panel.

RESOLVED: That the Big Society Panel be recommended not to award Pete’s Farm LAA funding based on the reasons as laid out above.

23/11 MEETING

The meeting, which began at 10.30am, concluded at 11.20am