Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

With the permission of the Chair, the Committee received and considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk next in the meeting concerning the provision of youth services by the town council.

As members of The Station were in attendance, Members thanked them for the service provided during the last year. The figures provided in their report were very helpful and were testament to why it was required. The Council had committed to funding for a second year which was less than previously anticipated, but The Station would need to forward a 3-5 year plan to a future meeting to agree further funding beyond 2025-26.

Members also discussed the re-establishment of the Youth Services Grant which had last run in 2022 and agreed amendments to the criteria for awarding. These included some minor word changes, removal of Covid-19 references, and bringing the time frame forward in the new fiscal year.

The Committee also considered correspondence from APCAM who were offering mental health drop-in sessions at the Corn Exchange during the school holidays. Members were favourable to what was proposed, funded from an underspend in other grant budgets in 2024-25.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report be noted and;

2.      That, Council considers future funding for The Station on submission of a 3-5 year plan during 2025 and;

3.      That, the Youth Services Grant opens for applications between April and June 2025 based on the agreed updated criteria and;

4.      That, the Committee recommends that underspends in the discretionary grants budget fund APCAM drop-in sessions and;

5.      That, these funds be granted under the General Power of Competence.