In accordance with the Constitution, Members of the Council may answer questions from the public of which notice has been given.
One question
has been received.
Minutes:
In accordance with the
Constitution, Members of the Council may answer questions from the public of
which notice has been given.
The following question was
received from Glynn Cartwright:
‘Please
would you let me know the balance of funds granted to Melton Matters?’
The
Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement provided the following
response:
‘I
have checked the position on the question you have raised and can confirm that
the funding allocated by the Town Area Committee in 2017 was not a grant and
was not formally allocated to Melton Matters, rather the Council’s records
reflect that this was a one off budget to address
environmental issues such as dog fouling. I recognise that through discussions
with elected Members at the time, the Council wanted to enable Melton Matters
to influence how this funding was spent, though sometimes this informal
arrangement has led to ambiguity and confusion, which we absolutely need to
address now. Over the last 5 years we have spent vastly more than the original
funding allocated on environmental matters. This includes providing Melton
Matters with equipment and supporting clean ups, as well as installing bins etc.
We have also installed a significant amount of signage to support the new
Public Spaces Protection Order and have also invested in dedicated
environmental enforcement officer resources. On this basis I can confirm that
the funding allocated in 2017 has been fully spent and there is no budget
remaining.
Having
said that, I want to reassure you that we remain committed to supporting
community groups in Melton and as discussed, recognise the valuable
contribution volunteers and community groups make in addressing community
issues. We discussed litter picking specifically when we met
and I am able to confirm that the Council would be happy to purchase a one off
supply of litter picking equipment which could be made available to support
groups carrying out litter picking activities. This would be on
the basis of the Council purchasing and holding a stock of litter
picking equipment, which could be requested as needed, by groups including
Melton Matters and Melton Wombles.’
Mr.
Cartwright asked the following supplementary question:
‘In
2017, Melton Matters were awarded £7k and I believe there is still £1.5k left
of that money. Can you tell me what has
happened to the £1.5k, which I believe is still available?’
The
Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement provided the following
response:
‘As
addressed in the original statement, the money allocated was not awarded
directly to Melton Matters. There were
discussions whereby it was alluded to you that the money was awarded
specifically for that group but upon review of the meeting minutes, this was a
sum of money for the environmental aspects of Melton and specifically for dog
fouling (the main issue at the time).
The money was not meant to be carried forward. It was supposed to have been spent. It was carried forward for a
number of years and once the amount of money added up for the specific
equipment plus collecting of the waste and other aspects, the sum of money
spent on environmental activities vastly outweighed the original £7k
awarded. I think it is valid that the
Council have made a commitment to providing more equipment over and above that
requested for community groups to use on an ongoing basis (it is important that
we draw a line under this at some point).
That equipment will be purchased by the Council and will be made
available to those community groups and that would be far in
excess of the money originally allocated in 2017.’