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Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Items
No. Item

87.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Received from Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz.

88.

Declaration of substitute members

Minutes:

None.

89.

Declarations of interest

 

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

·         if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

·         you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

 

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

 

*(a)Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b)   Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)  Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)    Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)    Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

(f)   Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

(g)   Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital.  

 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Watts declared a non-prejudicial interest in agenda item C3 (London Boroughs' Grants Committee 2020/21 – budget), as Chair of the London Boroughs’ Grants Committee.

 

90.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Decision:

CONFIRMED as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 November 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

91.

Local Initiatives Fund (LIF) awards pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

 

 

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

                  

Minutes:

Councillor Watts reported to the Committee that former Councillor Webbe had asked that her particular thanks be extended to Patricia Keating, Ward Budget and Partnerships Officer, for her valuable work and assistance in processing Local Initiative Fund applications.

 

 

RESOLVED:

(a) That the temporary revised measures for new and previously funded projects detailed in the Executive report of 30 April 2020 and paragraph 4.1 of the report of the Executive Member for Community Development be approved and that the open programme for applications be continued due to social distancing measures and Covid-19 restrictions still being in place.

(b) That it be noted that the revised measures will be brought to the Voluntary and Community Sector Committee in July 2021 for review.

(c) That the new LIF awards and changes to previous awards which have been approved under delegated authority by the Executive Member for Community Development, from 3 December 2020 to 2 March 2021 and detailed in appendix A to the report, be noted.

 

Reasons for decision

The Local Initiatives Fund was an effective way of addressing local priorities and provided a mechanism for Ward councillors to support small projects which might otherwise not be funded. Proposals submitted for approval represented a wide range of activity and would deliver significant benefit to local communities.

 

Other options considered

None

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None

92.

Discretionary rate relief for voluntary organisations pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

AGREED RECOMMENDATION

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

 

Minutes:

 

 

 

RESOLVED:

That Discretionary Rate Relief be awarded to five organisations (six

hereditaments) listed at appendix 2 to the report of the Executive Member for

Community Development and below, from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2023:

 

 

 

Name of Organisation

Address of premisesfor DRR

Type of Organisation

Total Relief Awarded(21/22)

Cost to

Council (21/22)

 

MahaDeviYoga Centre

MahaDevi Yoga Centre,Community Centre, 12 Eden Grove, StapletonHouse N7 8EQ

 

VCS

 

13,722.50

 

4,116.75

 

KIDS

Haywards Adventure Playground13 MarketRoad LondonN7 9LP

 

VCS

 

9,310.00

 

2,793.00

 

Smartworks

Bst & Grd Flr Unit 1Canonbury Yard, R/O190-194 New North Road,London, N17BJ

 

VCS

 

13,619.20

 

4,085.76

 

Smartworks

Unit 1a New North House, 202-208 NewNorth Road, London, N17BJ

 

VCS

 

6,912.00

 

2,073.60

 

TheArc Centre

 

98b StPaul St,N1 7DF

 

VCS

 

11,601.75

 

3,480.53

 

Bennett CourtPlaygroup

Bennett Court Community Centre,Axminster Road London,N7 6BN

 

VCS

 

1,536.00

 

460.80

 

Total

 

 

 

£56,701.45

 

£17,010.44

 

 

 

 

Reason for decision

Awarding discretionary rate relief to not-for-profit organisations or other bodies providing a community or social benefit was a cost-effective way of supporting local organisations delivering the commitments set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None

93.

Islington Council venues free community use scheme round 2 2019-20: Request to carry forward summer 2020 awards for use of free hire during summer 2022 pdf icon PDF 173 KB

Decision:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

(a) That awards from the previous year (summer 2020 Round 2 of the scheme) to take place during summer 2022, be carried forward for one free hire of the Islington Assembly Hall to each of the following organisations:

 

·       Islington Faith Forum

·       Yaram Arts CIC

 

(b) That the following applicant be held in reserve, in case of the inability of the above applicants to negotiate appropriate dates and timings:

 

·       Octopus Community Network

 

(c) That the timescale for successful organisations for this round be changed to June to mid-September 2022, as detailed in paragraphs 4.4 to 4.6 of the report of the Executive Member for Community Development.

 

Reason for decision

The scheme provided an opportunity for the Council to support local organisations through free use of the Assembly Hall and civic space.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None.

94.

Islington Council's Community Chest (ICCC): Continuation of Council's commitment pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Decision:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

(a) That the renewal of the Council’s partnership agreement with Cripplegate Foundation for administering and delivery of the ICCC programme, for three years from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024, be approved.

(b) That a financial commitment from the Council of £200,000 per annum for the first financial year of the ICCC programme 2021/22 and determination of the Council’s financial contribution on an annual basis thereafter for the following two years of the agreement with Cripplegate Foundation, be approved.

(c) That the Voluntary and Community Sector Development Team continue to work with Cripplegate Foundation to establish a partnership framework and priorities for the Islington Council Community Chest programme 2021 - 2024 that will be agreed with new terms and conditions.

 

Reason for decision

Islington Council Community Chest helped to nurture and sustain an innovative and resilient voluntary and community sector in Islington, in particular providing resources for smaller organisations that found it difficult to access funding from other programmes. It was an effective way of developing grass roots activity across the Borough and building capacity in local organisations to support residents who were experiencing poverty and isolation.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None.

95.

Islington Council's Community Chest: round one grant awards 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Decision:

Noted.

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the funding decisions (30 June 2020) made by Islington Council’s Community Chest (ICCC) Panel, in relation to the first round of ICCC grant funding for 2020/21, as detailed in Appendix A of the report of the Executive Member for Community Development, be noted.

 

Reasons for decision

The decisions on grant awards had already been made by ICCC and therefore the report was for the Committee’s information only.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None.

 

 

96.

London Community Response Fund - Wave 4 grants pdf icon PDF 186 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted.

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the organisations listed at appendix 1 to the report of the Executive Member for Community Development, which have been approved

for funding by the Council’s GOLD Group through the London Community Response Fund wave 4, be noted.

 

Reason for decision

The Covid 19 pandemic had disproportionately affected many communities and residents in Islington, highlighting the inequality that many experienced on a day-to-day basis. The sector had been vital in addressing these inequalities and providing support during the crisis, ensuring that some of those most affected had access to food, essentials and key services.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted

None.

97.

London Boroughs' Grants Committee 2020/21 - budget pdf icon PDF 182 KB

Decision:

Noted.

 

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest/Any dispensations granted – none

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:

That the decision of the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer) of 19 January 2021 to approve the London Boroughs’ Grants Committee proposed budget of £6.668m for 2021-22 and Islington’s estimated contribution of £0.180m in 2021-22, as detailed in the report of the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer), be noted.

 

Reasons for the decision

In view of London Councils’ deadline for a response, the decision was delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer).

 

The Council’s subscription to the London Boroughs’ Grants Committee contributed towards the funding of many London-wide organisations, providing a range of services, which benefitted Islington residents.

 

Other options considered

None.

 

Conflicts of interest/note of dispensations granted

None.