Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety

RESOLVED that :

1. The list of projects to be funded from the positive activities fund as set out in appendix 2 – “List of projects and recommendations” be approved.
   
   
2. Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety to determine how best to allocate the provisional remaining sum of £13,595.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the report as circulated with the agenda which sought approval for a list of projects to be funded from the Positive Activities Fund (as set out in appendix 2) and to delegate authority to the Policy and Partnerships Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety to determine how best to allocate the provisional remaining sum which was now £13 595 (the report circulated referred to a sum of £11 144).

An assessment panel had met on 14 September and that day the Cabinet Member had met with young people from County Community Projects (CCP) to examine the bids and explain the thinking behind the decisions to prioritise the funding. The Cabinet Member outlined to Cabinet the reasons for not supporting certain projects as listed in appendix 2.

There would be a second bidding round and the Council would use CCP in their role as leading the building resilience project to work with potential bidders. There were still geographical gaps in the town which CCP could help to address in order to strengthen youth provision in Cheltenham.

The Leader of the Council declared a personal interest in this agenda item as a Director of Cheltenham YMCA.

Members expressed disappointment that the speed at which the County had withdrawn funding had resulted in an increase in antisocial behaviour. In addition the uncertainty of what the youth service was actually going to provide in the future did not allow other parties time to put together appropriate bids. At the same time it was recognised and welcomed that there were many organisations which were prepared to do positive general youth work and bridge the remaining gaps.

RESOLVED that:

1. The list of projects to be funded from the positive activities fund as set out in appendix 2 – “List of projects and recommendations” be approved.
2. Delegate authority to the Policy and Partnerships Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety to determine how best to allocate the provisional remaining sum which was now £13 595.