Decisions

The Community Run Library Programme objectives were set out in the Cabinet paper E3000 dated 23/11/2017. The application meets the relevant criteria of the programme and is beneficial to the local community. Radstock Town Council will operate the Community Library within the existing Branch library in the town. Their vision is to create a ‘Community Hub for Radstock. The library will be the primary use, including access to services, space for voluntary and community groups to hire and office space for the Town Council.

The Town Council will manage the library with support of local volunteers. The building will be open on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday matching the current provision and will be extended to a Saturday opening when a sufficient number of volunteers have been recruited.

Equalities assessments have been carried out on each application and further advice has been given where appropriate. Each applicant will receive Equalities Training as part of the package of training support provided by the Council as well as on-going support through the libraries network.

The proposals will enable the Council to start to realise savings targets set by the Community Libraries Programme through reduced revenue costs. The Council will award £5,000 towards each applicant in accordance with the agreed criteria.

In addition, the Council will use its ‘Enabling Fund’ to support transitional costs for the Branch Library as well as making available unwanted equipment and furniture. This will be dealt with on a case by case basis and as appropriate.

An application to run a Community Run Library has been received including a request for funding from an existing Community Library. The applications have been assessed against a number of criteria which includes: governance, equalities, and community consultation. They have all followed the approved process set out in the Cabinet Decision E3000 and meet the criteria of the programme.

To approve Radstock Town Council’s application and grant of £5,000 towards the set-up of the Community Run Library.

The final terms of the agreement will be finalised in due course.

The Community Run Library Programme objectives were set out in the Cabinet paper E3000 dated 23/11/2017. The proposals will enable the Council to start to realise savings targets set by the Community Libraries Programme through reduced revenue costs. The Council will award £5,000 towards each applicant in accordance with the agreed criteria.

In addition, the Council will use its ‘Enabling Fund’ to support transitional costs for the Branch Library as well as making available unwanted equipment and furniture to all applicants where appropriate. This will be dealt with on a case by case basis and as appropriate.

All applications meet the relevant criteria and are beneficial to the local community.

A summary of each proposal is detailed below:-

Moorland Road Community Library Charity (MRCLC) will take over the running of the library within the existing building from April 2019. The group wish to maintain the current level of service, offering free internet access, participate in national library literacy schemes, running small groups for children and a Book Club for adults as well as events and will make the space available for hire. The group has a board of trustees and over 60 volunteers.

Larkhall Community library (LCL) was one of the first community libraries set up over five years ago. The library is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 3pm. They have a dedicated library room in Oriel Hall. The Hall is run by a voluntary Management Committee, they have two part-time staff, with support from a small group of committed volunteers. Last year they set up a home delivery service for their library members. This is delivered to two local care homes and local residents. The grant will be used to extend their book stock to offer more variety and also include some audio books including make some improvements to their library room providing a new floor.

Equalities assessments have been carried out on each application and further advice has been given where appropriate. Each applicant will receive Equalities Training as part of the package of training support provided by the Council as well as on-going support through the libraries network.

An application to run a Community Run Library has been received including a request for funding from an existing Community Library. They have been assessed against a number of criteria which includes: governance, equalities, and community consultation and have all followed the approved process set out in the Cabinet Decision E3000 and meet the criteria of the programme.

To approve the following application and grant requests of £5,000 towards the set-up of the Community Run Library:

1. Application for the transfer of Moorland Road Branch Library to Moorland Road Community Library Charity and grant.
2. Grant for an existing Community Library in Larkhall.

The final terms of the agreement for each location will be finalised in due course.

Amending current Business Rate Relief policy to allow for changes to Revaluation Relief, Newspaper Relief and new Retail Rate Relief

Sydney Gardens PID:

• The sum was held as a provisional item on the 18/19 capital programme.

• The provisional item was identified following a successful Round 1 HLF Bid for Development Phase Funding.

• Parks submitted a full Round 2 Bid to the HLF last summer for the Delivery Phase (the provisional item on the 18/19 capital programme).

• Planning permission and listed building consent for the scheme was granted in October 2018

• We were successful in our R2 Bid and were awarded our HLF grant on 12th December 2018.

To move the Sydney Gardens funding from a provisional item on the 18/19 capital programme to the full programme.

Sydney Gardens Project restarts in February 2019 and runs until 31st March 2022 and has HLF grant of £2.7m.

Decision confirmed by ODD sign off by:
• Cllr Bob Goodman (Cabinet Member & Chair of SG Steering Group)
• Cllr Gerrish (Finance & Efficiency)
• Martin Shields - Corporate Director
• Donna Parham - S151

PID sign off confirmed by 6 Directors in DDG.

On 13 February 2018 Council resolved to delegate to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council a decision to revise and simplify the means by which the profit share calculation between the Council and TDC operates.

1. To agree that with effect from Year 13 (2017/18 TDC Financial Year) the TDC profit share to be amended to a total of 10.5% of annual turnover.

2. To approve revisions to the Lease and Water Supply Agreement to reflect the revised profit share above.

3. Approve the final calculations for the Year 11 and Year 12 Profit Share sum by applying the 10.5% of turnover approach retrospectively to these years as set out in Appendix 1 of the Decision Report.

The Council and the Genesis Trust have worked up a proposal for a 3 year trial, to reduce cost to the Council whilst maximising the use of the Council's plant nursery site to achieve Council corporate objectives, and the social objectives of the Genesis Trust which is a social enterprise. The Council will enter into an initial 3 year concession agreement to assess the success of the scheme in meeting the mutual objectives.

The Council will reduce risk to its volatile income streams by selling stock to the Genesis Trust and reducing its own direct sales of individual plants to residents, and as a result will be able to reduce headcount by holding vacant posts within the nursery.

The Group Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Development & Neighbourhoods will, subject to the necessary legal agreements, enter into a partnership with the Genesis Trust, working alongside Council staff, to grow and sell plants from the Council's plant nursery and to offer horticultural therapies to clients. This partnership will bring financial savings to the Council and will secure the nursery operation whilst expanding sales opportunities to residents and providing therapeutic activities and up-skilling for Genesis Trust clients.