(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

In the interest of transparency, Councillor R Brown disclosed that he was a Member of an educational trust in his ward.

ACTION: Director of Legal and Governance

The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods and Customer Services will submit a report (Document “H”) which provides information on processes for providing grant funds to institutions and groups in Bingley.

Recommended –

That the Trustees note the following and agree on an option:

(1)       The Community Chest model has been widely used for grant giving to local community groups and is a tried and tested mechanism that provides local accountability. It also reduces the bureaucracy in administering local funds.

(2)       The Transformation Fund method of distributing funds allows the panel to be unique to the funding criteria and specialist knowledge required to award grants. This method             has been used to fund grants for different objectives and with funds from different council departments. It is easily adapted and flexible in its operation.

(3)       The Community Chest process is recommended due to its versatility and operation with Area Offices. The Shipley Area Coordinators Office will provide a strong connection with ward councillors and the knowledge of community organisations by ward based staff.

(Mahmood Mohammed - 01274 437339)

The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods and Customer Services submitted a report (Document “H”) which provided information on processes for providing grant funds to institutions and groups in Bingley.

Further to Minute Number 17, on 27^th October 2022, Members were reminded that after further discussions, it was agreed that the meeting be adjourned to allow officers to respond to the following questions:

·      Clarity needed on the Bingley Improvement District – Bingley was much smaller in 1892 -  could this legally be interpreted to cover the Bingley ward area – otherwise might be seen as unfair if only small number of schools could be allowed to participate.  The Legal Officer reported the Charity’s Constitution states ‘the charity’s object is to advance the education of children and adults in the former Bingley Improvement District’. A map of the Bingley Improvement District was provided to Members. It was also noted that a change to the area covered by the charity would be an amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution could only be amended by a resolution agreed in writing by all charity trustees, or by a resolution passed by 75% majority of those charity trustees voting at a general meeting. If the trustees agreed to the change, an application would need to be made to the Charity Commission requesting an amendment to the charity object and setting out reasons for the request. It was then at the Charity Commission’s discretion whether the change would be allowed.

·       Was the grant for organisations based in the area, or for service delivery in the area? The Legal Officer stated that the grant was for service delivery in the area.

·       The Legal Officer stated that the grant could be allocated to individuals and/schools and other educational organisations in the area. However, Members were minded that the grant be allocated to schools and other educational establishments within the Bingley Improvement District. 

·       What were the plans for the investment of the capital, any attempt to get a reasonable return on this, or remain in a low interest account? The Legal Officer stated that this was a decision for the charity trustees in consultation with Finance if required.

·      Could the Committee confirm that all legal costs (outsourcing to commercial lawyers) being absorbed by BDMC, and nothing has been or would be charged to the Fund?  It was reported that the Committee would be unable to confirm this, as specialist charity advice was required for this charity and as such the external legal costs attributable to such specialist advice would not be costs which should be borne by the Council; such costs would be rightly and properly charged to the charity.

Members discussed a number of options the funds should be allocated for the need of educational in the Bingley area.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Trust Grant be allocated within the Bingley Improvement District;

(2)  That the six schools, which includes, Myrtle Park Primary, St. Joseph Primary, Trinity All Saints Primary, Priestthorpe Primary, Beckfoot  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.