Minute / 1 February 2012 / Minute

NITHSDALE AREA COMMITTEE (BUSINESS)

Meeting of Wednesday 1 February 2012

at 2.00pm in Municipal Chambers, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries

Members

Jack Groom
(Chairman) / - / Nith
Gillian Dykes
(Vice Chairman) / - / Mid & Upper Nithsdale
Graham J Bell / - / North WestDumfries
James H Dempster / - / Mid & Upper Nithsdale
Ivor A Hyslop / - / Lochar
Jeff Leaver / - / Lochar
John A Martin / - / Nith
Thomas A McAughtrie / - / Abbey
Lorna J McGowan / - / Lochar
David J McKie / - / North WestDumfries
Ronnie Nicholson / - / North WestDumfries
Colin Smyth / - / Nith
Doug Snell / - / North WestDumfries
John Syme / - / Mid & Upper Nithsdale
Alastair Witts / - / Nith

Officials

Justin Tracy / - / Director of Community and Customer Services
Lee Seton / - / Service Manager Area Framework Nithsdale
Sean McGleenan / - / Senior Social Work Manager
Emma Stokes-King / - / Senior Social Worker
Claire Thomson / - / Governance Policy Officer and Elections Manager
Chief Inspector John Thomson / - / Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

In Attendance

Sheila Hutcheson / - / Senior Social Worker, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

Apologies

Ian Blake / - / Abbey
John A Charteris / - / Lochar
Rob Davidson / - / Abbey

Alex Haswell

Director Chief Executive Service

1.SEDERUNT AND APOLOGIES

13 Members present, 3 apologies.

2.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Gill Dykes, James H Dempster, Ivor A Hyslop, and John A Martin declared an interest in item 8 by virtue of being members of Nithsdale Sports Council but deemed that interest was such that they did not need to leave the meeting during consideration of this item.

3.MINUTE OF MEETING OF 12 JANUARY 2012 (BUSINESS)

Decision

AGREED to defer this item to the next meeting of Nithsdale Area Committee (Business) to allow clarity to be sought with regard to the item “Review of Speed Limits on Local A and B Class Roads: Nithsdale Area”.

PROCEDURE – the Chairman intimated that with the agreement of Members, he intended to deal with item 6 on the agenda calling the meeting.

MEMBERS – Gill Dykes and Ivor A Hyslop entered the meeting – 15 Members present.

6.SCHEME OF ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION TO COMMITTEES – Report by Director Chief Executive Service

Decision

NOTEDthe respective roles and remits of Area and Corporate Committees.

4.PERFORMANCE REPORT: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY CONSTABULARY (NITHSDALE) – Report by Chief Constable

Decision

NOTED

4.1the success of the anti shoplifting initiative in Dumfries between 1-24 December 2011;

4.2that the Festive Safety Campaign 2011 (drink/drug driving) resulted in an increase of 52 offences from the corresponding period 2010;

4.3the partnership agencies’ ongoing effort to combat rural crime and bogus workmen operating in the area;

4.4that the Police would look at re-instating the text message alert system;

4.5that there was a part-time Wildlife Crime Officer in position and information in respect of this role would be provided in the next Police report to Nithsdale Area Committee; and

4.6AGREED that the following aspect of performance would be referred to the Police, Fire and Rescue Committee for consideration:

4.6.1the need to break down the figures provided on a ward basis to assist in identifying those areas in greatest need of resources.

5.PERFORMANCE REPORT: SOCIAL WORK SERVICES – Report by Director Social Work Services

Decision

NOTED

5.1the overall performance of the Service as detailed in the At a Glance Summary Report;

5.2the exception reports on performance;

5.3AGREEDthat the following aspects of performance be referred to the Social Work Services Committee:

5.3.1that more detailed statistical information be contained within the body of future performance reports to Nithsdale Area Committee; and

5.3.2that information with respect to Community Payback Orderswould be included in a future performance report to Nithsdale Area Committee.

7.DISCRETIONARY BUDGETS 2011-12 AND 2012-13 - Report by Service Manager Area Framework, Nithsdale

Decision

NOTED

7.1the remaining balances for the 2011-2012 Discretionary Budget as detailed below:

General / Gala / Twinning / All
Available at date / Zero / £316 / £1,585 / £4,316*

* total available dependent upon the decision regarding Thornhill Golf Club

7.2the lifting of the condition attached to a recent award to Sanquhar Bowling Club;

AGREED

7.3thatThornhill Golf Club return the award of £4,000 made from the 2010-11 budget and that the Club be advised of the opportunity to seek funding from the 2012-13 budget; and

7.4to award £6,000, in principle,to OceanAllOver (N/ART20) for their project ‘Time Machine Residency’ from the 2012-13 budget.

8.LOCAL FRAMEWORK FOR NITHSDALE AREA COMMITTEE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET 2012/13 – Report by Head of Improvement & Engagement and Community Services

Decision

8.1NOTED the ‘Area Committee Discretionary Budget Strategic Framework’ and the ‘Process for Area Committee Discretionary Funding Applications and Awards’; and

8.2AGREED the Nithsdale Area Committee discretionary budget eligibility criteria, attached as Appendix.

1

APPENDIX

NITHSDALE AREA COMMITTEE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1The Application must make a valuable contribution within the Nithsdale area to the corporate Council priorities referenced in the ‘Area Committee Discretionary Budget Strategic Framework’.

2All applications to Nithsdale Area Committee will be scored locally by a cross service scoring panel based on the following criterion;

Eligibility of applicant

Council Priorities

Financial status of the applicant organisation

Evidence of need

Evidence of partnership working

Evidence of match funding

Evidence of sustainability

Evidence of business planning

3The applicant should operate their service or project within the Nithsdale area.

4Proof that match funding or alternative sources of funding have been sought is required.

5PROJECT TIMESCALES;

5.1The project must commence within the financial year of the award and be completed within 12 months;

5.2However, where applicants require critical financial commitment in advance of a new financial year to support event planning or where a project will be delivered very early in the next financial year early awards can be made ‘in principle’. No payment can be released until the beginning of the new financial year in which the project will be delivered.

6ITEMS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING;

6.1Any application for the same project which has already been considered by this committee within the current financial year.

6.2Any application which undermines or conflicts with an existing Council policy.

6.3For religious purposes

6.4For fireworks

6.5For the sole benefit of any private asset where there is no wider community benefit

7*RING FENCED RECURRING LOCAL PRIORITIES;

7.1Provost

7.2Twinning

7.3Christmas Lights

7.4Christmas Festivities (Dumfries, Thornhill, Sanquhar, Kelloholm & Kirkconnel)

7.5Mid & Upper NithsdaleGala’s

7.6Guid Nychburris

7.7Sanquhar Riding of the Marches

* figures for all at point 7 will be agreed at the next available meeting of this committee following the budget development process in February 2012.

8Applications up to £75 will be considered from individuals for personal sponsorship relating to their talent or endeavour which reflects positively on Nithsdale.

9Applications up to £250 will be considered for social events for the elderly.