Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing

Purpose of report

Enabling communities across the Cherwell District to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee by establishing a new small grants scheme.

Giving communities in Cherwell sufficient time to get plans in place, including necessary approvals for road closures, temporary event notices and licences.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To establish a Platinum Jubilee budget to a maximum of £55,000 from reserves.

1.2         To agree the grant scheme and promotional measures as outlined in the report and to delegate authority to administer the grant scheme, and enter the grant agreements, as outlined in paragraph 3.2.7 of this report.

1.3         To request officers work with colleagues from neighbouring authorities and the Lord Lieutenant’s office to coordinate and join up support for communities planning celebrations.

1.4         To request officers curate an online gallery of residents’ photographs celebrating Cherwell over the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

1.5         To request officers promote the available local and national funding streams through a co-ordinated communications plan and dedicated webpage with links to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities information.

Resolved

(1)          That a Platinum Jubilee budget to a maximum of £55,000 from reserves be established.

(2)          That the grant scheme and promotional measures be agreed and to authority to administer the grant scheme and enter the grant agreements be delegated as set out below:

·         Decision making: Applications will be assessed by the Healthy Communities Manager, and grant awards made by the Assistant Director Wellbeing, in consultation with the Assistant Director Finance as the s.151 Officer, Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing and Leader of the Council or his deputy.

(3)          That officers be requested work with colleagues from neighbouring authorities and the Lord Lieutenant’s office to coordinate and join up support for communities planning celebrations.

(4)          That officers be requested to curate an online gallery of residents’ photographs celebrating Cherwell over the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

(5)          That officers be requested to promote the available local and national funding streams through a co-ordinated communications plan and dedicated webpage with links to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities information.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing submitted a report to seek agreement to establish a new small grants scheme to enable communities across the Cherwell District to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. This would give communities in Cherwell sufficient time to get plans in place, including necessary approvals for road closures, temporary event notices and licences.

Resolved

(1)          That a Platinum Jubilee budget to a maximum of £55,000 from reserves be established.

(2)          That the grant scheme and promotional measures be agreed and to authority to administer the grant scheme and enter the grant agreements be delegated as set out below:

·         Decision making: Applications will be assessed by the Healthy Communities Manager, and grant awards made by the Assistant Director Wellbeing, in consultation with the Assistant Director Finance as the s.151 Officer, Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing and Leader of the Council or his deputy.

(3)          That officers be requested work with colleagues from neighbouring authorities and the Lord Lieutenant’s office to coordinate and join up support for communities planning celebrations.

(4)          That officers be requested to curate an online gallery of residents’ photographs celebrating Cherwell over the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

(5)          That officers be requested to promote the available local and national funding streams through a co-ordinated communications plan and dedicated webpage with links to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities information.

Reasons

The proposed grant scheme will honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.  It will encourage community cohesion and neighbourliness in Cherwell’s parishes and urban communities.

Alternatives options

Option 1: Consideration has been given to extending eligibility to informal neighbourhood groups.  This has not been recommended because the money would be paid over to individuals rather than established, accountable organisations.

Option 2: Consideration has been given to restricting grants to events taking place on the Queen’s official Jubilee weekend (02-05 June).  Given the work involved in organising an event and the short lead-in times to apply for this grant, it is considered fairer to extend eligibility to events throughout the summer.

Option 3: Not to establish a grants scheme to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has been rejected as Cherwell usually supports communities to participate in significant Royal events.