Representatives from the Grant Western Canal and the CAB will attend the meeting to give a short presentation about their work.
Minutes:
The Head of Communities and Governance presented a report* regarding presentations by external agencies in receipt of an annual Council grant.
The report outlined the format laid out for external agencies to provide a short presentation of their work and to explain the value of the District Council’s annual grant award to them, at this and future Community Well Being Policy Development Group meetings.
The Officer explained that a schedule had been put in place as below:
27 January 2015 |
(1) Citizens Advice Bureau and (2) Grand Western Canal |
24 March 2015 |
(1) Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life and (2) Tiverton and District Community Transport Association (including Crediton and District Community Transport). |
30 June 2015 |
(1) Involve – Voluntary Action in Mid Devon and (2) Churches Housing Action Team. |
18 August 2015 |
(1) Age UK Mid Devon and (2) Tourism Information Service. |
13 October 2015 |
(1) Market Centre Youth Drop-In, Tiverton and (2) Community Housing Aid Nightstop Service. |
8 December 2015 |
(1) Crediton Arts Centre and (2) Sunningmead Community Association. |
2 February 2016 |
Blackdown Support Group |
It was RESOLVED that the Policy Development Group would consider the presentations from the Citizens Advice Bureau and Grand Western Canal and endorse the future schedule of presentations.
Proposed by the Chairman
The Group received a presentation from Mr M Baker from the Grand Western Canal, outlining a brief history, the Country Park’s alignment with Mid Devon objectives, management, funding of the canal and a look to the future.
Discussion took place regarding:
· Funding that might be available from the County Council for Health and Wellbeing;
· The fact that the canal could be used by so many different groups, including those that may be under represented in other areas due to the ease of access;
· The canal had been used by Olympic runner Jo Pavey for training;
· Income that was generated by the selling of logs and car park charges;
· The fact that the canal could never be self-financing and would always be dependent on grant funding;
· The issue of cyclists using the tow path and the code of conduct that had been produced.
The Chairman thanked Mr Baker for his presentation.
Notes: -
i. Councillor Mrs J R Rendle declared a personal interest as she was a user of the canal.
ii. Councillors Mrs H Bainbridge, Mrs S Griggs and P F Williams declared personal interests as they were Members of the Grand Western Canal Joint Advisory Committee.
iii. Councillor F J Colthorpe declared an interest as she was a Member of Devon County Council.
iv. Councillor P F Williams declared a personal interest as he bought logs from the Canal.
The Group received a presentation from Mr S Davis of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Mr Davis outlined the work of the CAB explaining the main reasons that the public used the service and the methods of contact that were used. This was expected to change from mainly face to face contact to electronic means of contact such as telephone or web appointments. Face to face appointments would still be available for those in most need. He explained that the CAB was a strong social campaigner and the variety of issues that clients had and therefore the need for training of volunteers to be very in depth.
The CAB were being progressive in raising their own income and had recently taken over a property in Barnstaple which was large enough to sub-let space to generate income as well as setting up a trading company which allowed them to sell Human Resources Services to small businesses.
Discussion took place regarding:
· The venue’s used within Mid Devon and the possibility of improving these;
· The number of people suffering from debt issues and the help that could be given to help them claim what they were entitled to;
· The fact that many people claiming benefits were in work;
· The need to generate income.
The Chairman thanked Mr Davis for his presentation.
Note: - Report previously circulated and attached to minutes.
Supporting documents: