Welcome from the Chairman.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To receive any apologies of absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jesse Grey and Simon Werner. Councillor Shamsul Shelim was substituting.

To note any declarations of interest.

No declarations of interest received.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2016, unanimously agreed.

To receive a report from Mark Taylor, Head of Libraries, Arts and Heritage Services.

Mark Taylor, Head of Libraries, Arts and Heritage, went through the report highlighting certain points as below:

·         Point 4 in the report summary looks at the numbers of volunteers and how many hours they had given. Mark Taylor highlighted that the figures in the report would be exceeded and would be more closer to 12000 in a year. Mark Taylor explained that the approach taken was to encourage residents to do more and this approach had delivered 18% more, £86K in the revenue budget. The borough were selective, looking for the right skills to assist the borough to deliver our service. We look for active support, focussing on the retention and generation of goodwill.

·         Councillor Stretton added that the officer who currently lead on volunteering stated as a volunteer themselves. Currently five volunteers joined the borough as officers. The lead officer matches people to what they want to do. The borough has many young volunteers that actively volunteer for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

·         Other services provided include the home library function where books are delivered to housebound people. This function is very rewarding for the volunteers and the housebound people.

·         Mark Taylor explained that the report had also been considered by the Big Society Panel where a few questions had been raised and could be answered at this Panel today.

o   The questions asked at the Big Society Panel were as follows:

§  What was the breakdown of age groups:

Ø  18-25 years – 80

Ø  35-45 years – 50

Ø  55-75 years – 100

To note, 20-24 year olds are busy in life but the borough has a few volunteers in this age group.

o   How do volunteers find out about volunteering?

Ø  Through friends, users of the service, browsing the borough website and the young , generally at school and through youth clubs.

·         Councillor Shelim asked how schools were approached. Mark Taylor explained that schools were informed through the reading challenge. Councillor Shelim suggested that it would be great to convince and encourage sixth form students to volunteer and get involved with the community as it would be good on their CV’s.

The Chairman thanked Mark Taylor and his team on providing an amazing service to residents, always sustaining and improving the services.

To look at work programme for future meetings.

The Clerk went through the work programme and a few amendments for the next meeting were made.

Members to note the following future meetings:

·         Tuesday 17 May 2016

·         Tuesday 16 August 2016

·         Wednesday 19 October 2016

·         Tuesday 15 November 2016

·         Tuesday 24 January 2017

·         Tuesday 21 March 2017

·         Tuesday 16 May 2017

Members noted the dates for future meetings.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on item 8 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 2 and 4 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

To receive a report from Kevin Mist, Head of Communities & Economic Development.