northlincs.gov.uk

24  (24) LEISURE CAPITAL GRANT AID APPLICATIONS – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking consideration of three applications received by the council for financial assistance. 

The key points of the report were that:

• There were two different leisure grant aid schemes
• There were seven applications for grant aid to consider against the scheme criteria and available funds 

The report highlighted that the Sports Grants to Individuals scheme helped athletes selected to national teams or squads.  The maximum grant was £500 towards travel and training costs and free off peak access to fitness centres and swimming pools in council run facilities. Only those sports recognised by Sport England were eligible. 

The Leisure Capital Grant Programme scheme helped community sport, arts or heritage capital projects.  The most granted was normally £15,000. It was explained that groups could apply for one grant of up to £30,000 in any five-year period if the total cost of the project was more than £60,000. 

The applications received met the criteria in the relevant grant aid scheme for assistance up to the level shown in the attached table 

Resolved – That the recommended level of grant support, set out in appendix 1 to the report, be approved. 

25  (25) RECENT ACQUISITIONS TO THE MUSEUM COLLECTIONS – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report advising the Cabinet Member of additions to the Museum Collections from January 2010 to December 2010. 

The Arts Council England Accreditation scheme recommended that new acquisitions to the museum collections be reported to the Museum Service’s Governing Body every year. 

In 2010 the Museums Service added to the core collections in Archaeology, Local History and Natural Sciences.  Items had also been collected on Social History and Decorative Arts, with particular focus on the post war period, which was in line with plans to open a Post-War Gallery at the museum in 2012. 

The report gave details of the amount of different items collected, along with some of the most important finds and how the items were acquired. 

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, (b) that the donors be thanked for their generosity, and (c) that the report form part of the Annual Accreditation return to the Arts Council England in the autumn of 2012. 

26  (26) PASTURE ROAD PLAYING FIELD, BARTON UPON HUMBER – LAND OCCUPIED BY BARTON JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report considering options regarding unresourced responsibilities arising from its historic trusteeship of land at Pasture Road, Barton upon Humber. 

The playing field (5.133 acres/ 2.077 ha) was vested in the council in accordance with a scheme made by the Secretary of State under S.18 of the Charities Act, 1960. It was held by the council upon trust and the charity’s object was to permit use of this land as a playing field for the purposes of: “helping and educating girls and boys, and especially girls and boys resident in the Urban District of Barton Upon Humber, through their leisure time activities so to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities, that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and that their condition of life may be improved.” The council was the sole holding and managing trustee of this foundation (The Barton Boys Club Playing Field) by Order dated 2.02.1966. 

In 2005, the land was under the control of the Youth Service and was occupied by the Barton Youth Centre Junior Football Club as a football ground.  The Club had erected five temporary buildings and installed floodlights. 

In March 2005 the Youth Service requested the grant of a lease to the Club.  The purpose of doing so was to recognise the situation, which had come about whereby the Club was responsible for the operation of the ground and its costs.  The Club also wished to obtain security for its existing investment and to qualify for grant support. 

Unfortunately the Charity Commission’s office would not agree to the grant of a lease to the Club.  This would confer vacant possession and could exclude other members of the public and other suitable activities.  The Club’s activities currently related solely to football.  The Charity Commission has, as a result, indicated that this would be in breach of objects of the Trust. 

The report detailed options available to the council, including financial implications, which might satisfy the objects of the Trust.  The options were subject to the Club obtaining charitable status and any relevant consent required from the Charity Commission. 

Resolved – (a) That Option 2, as set out in the report, be approved, and (b) that if the council is unable to transfer the land to the Club, that Option 3, as set out in the report, be approved. 

The following items contain exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). 

27  (27) AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT OFFICER AND EDUCATION OFFICER AT 20-21 VISUAL ARTS CENTRE – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking approval for changes to the staffing establishment at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre (the Centre). 

Visitor numbers to the centre had slowly declined over the last five years; there were various reasons for the decline, many of which were beyond the control of the centre.  Plans had been developed to stop the decline, these included improvements to the way in which visitors were engaged with. 

In February 2011 the centre applied to the Arts Council England to be a National Portfolio Organisation.  This was successful and the centre would receive £78,000 per year over three years from April 2012. 

Part of the application was to do more audience development and education work.  In 2010 the council worked with Audiences Yorkshire to look at existing and potential audiences, the work also showed ways of engaging with the audiences in order that they visit the Centre. 

The report outlined staffing proposals for the use of the Arts Council England funding, including financial implications. 

Resolved – (a) That the changes to the staffing establishment at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, as set out in the report, be approved, and (b) that the subsequent recruitment process to fill the post be approved. 

28  (28) 20-21 VISUAL ARTS CENTRE CAFÉ – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking agreement for the way in which the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre could reduce the council’s subsidy for the café. 

The council removed the subsidy to run the Arts Centre café in February 2011. A SWOT analysis had been completed in order to consider various scenarios in order to make the saving. 

The report gave details of the scenarios considered, including financial and staffing implications, and options arising from this. 

Resolved – That scenarios 3 and 4, as set out in the report at paragraphs 4.1.3 and 4.1.4, in the first instance, be investigated. 

29  (29) LAND ON CROWLE MOORS – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report providing information to justify the acquisition of a further area of land at Crowle, formerly used for the milling of peat. 

The council had previously purchased an area of land on Crowle Moors, which was the subject of a long running planning inquiry. The council’s position in the inquiry was that the peat working on the site should halt as it was having a negative effect upon the conservation interest in the site.  The council was successful in the inquiry and the peat mining had ceased as a result. 

The council acquired the land to ensure that the peat worked areas were restored.  The land was subsequently entered into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which produced annual payments to the council. 

The old peat milling area, which included two barns and 3.6 acres of land, was now available for the council to purchase.  If the land was acquired it would allow for the potential development of a small tourist facility as part of the council’s Gateway to the Moors. 

Resolved – That the acquisition of the area of land outlined in the report and accompanying appendix, and as referred to in paragraph 5.1.2, be endorsed. 

30  (30) PROPERTY TRANSACTION SCHEDULES – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking for consideration, and where necessary approval, of a schedule containing the terms of all recently negotiated property transactions. 

The schedules covered both operational and commercial property. 

Resolved – That the schedule appended to the report be approved.