Apologies were received from Cllrs Ms Sanders and Wiles.

The minutes of the 14 September 2015 Community and Health Committee were RESOLVED to be a true record.

Members were reminded that the Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to keep a list of assets (meaning buildings or other land) which were of community value. Once an asset was placed on the list it would usually remain there for five years. The effect of listing was that generally speaking an owner intending to dispose of the asset must give notice to the local authority. A community interest group then had six weeks in which to ask to be treated as a potential bidder. If it did so, the disposal could not take place for six months. The theory was that this period known as the “moratorium” would allow the community group to come up with an alternative proposal - although, at the end of the moratorium, it was entirely up to the owner whether a disposal  went  through, to whom and for how much. There were arrangements for the local authority to pay compensation to an owner who lost money in consequence of the asset being listed. 

A nomination had been received from the Blackmore Bull Community Group on Monday 9 November 2015 in relation to The Bull Public House in Blackmore. The essential statutory test for an ACV was set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011 and it was for the local authority to judge whether the criteria were met (subject to any challenge by way of judicial review).

The report requested that Members consider listing or not listing the land as an Asset of Community Value.

Cllr Russell MOVED and Cllr Mrs Murphy SECONDED Option 1 set out in the recommendation and following a full discussion and a vote on a show of hands it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

That Members agree to list the land as indicated on Appendix B of the report as an Asset of Community Value.

Reasons for Recommendation

The report provided guidance to allow Members to make an informed decision as to whether to list the nominated asset as an Asset of Community Value.

(Cllr Keeble declared a non-pecuniary interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct by virtue of being a member of the Blackmore community).

Members were reminded that fees and charges made by the Council for various services were reviewed on an annual basis by the relevant Committees relating to the services provided and this review part of the budget setting process. Whilst some of the fees and charges were statutory, and therefore determined through legislation, the Council must also review its charges for discretionary services to ensure that they reflected the current costs of service provision.

The proposed fees were based on a calculation of the costs involved in administering the various areas of work, apart from where there was a statutory charge or where the fees were set by Government.

The Council where possible  adopted a full cost recovery of fees and charges.

Cllr Russell MOVED and Cllr Poppy SECONDED the recommendation in the report and following a discussion and a vote taken on a show of hands it was

RESOLVED

That the Committee agreed to the proposed charges for 2016/17 as attached in Appendix A & B to the report which related to Community and to Parks and Open spaces.

Reasons for Recommendation

The recommendation was to revise the charges for 2016/17following the review of all discretionary fees and charges to inform the 2016/17 budget setting process.

Members were reminded that a report was submitted to Community Committee on 21 July 2014 which provided an update and evaluation of the current community events that the Council organised:   Family Fun Days, Strawberry Fair, Lighting Up Brentwood and Shenfield Christmas Fayre.  A further report was submitted to Community Committee on 21 October 2014 in which Members had indicated that they would like to see additional community events for 2015/16, with a particular emphasis on the local heritage and cultural background of Brentwood. It was therefore proposed to run a series of events under one branded umbrella of a Heritage and Cultural Festival. An additional budget of £15,000 was agreed at Ordinary Council on 4 March 2015.

The planned events programme for 2016/17 was before Members as Appendix A to the report which Members were requested to agree and which was  subject to the budget setting process.

Cllr Russell MOVED and Cllr Mrs Coe SECONDED the recommendation in the report and it was

RESOLVED

That Members agree the Event Plan for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix A to the report, subject to the budget setting process.

Reason for Recommendation

The Community Events programme related to the Localism priority.  Through bringing communities together and working effectively in collaboration with a range of groups and organisations the Council  could better ensure the future wellbeing of the Borough. The Community events also supported local businesses and provided a platform for all service areas across the Council to promote their new initiatives, projects or as a means of consultation with the public. Officers  would work with local businesses, community groups and the voluntary sector to develop community events to enhance and support the local community. 

Members were advised that in March 2015 the Council commissioned Ploszajski Lynch Consulting to develop a Leisure Strategy for the Borough.

An initial draft of the strategy was now complete but to develop this further it required Members to provide input into the document and identify some key priorities to take forward through a project plan over the coming years.

Members were advised that the Leisure Strategy would include play equipment.

The strategy had been developed to cover two distinct areas, firstly encompassing all the Council’s parks and open space provision, and secondly the facilities that were offered through Brentwood Leisure Trust, and the challenges faced over the next five years.

Cllr  Russell MOVED and Cllr Mrs Murphy SECONDED the recommendation in the report and following a discussion and a vote taken on a show of hands it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

That  Members agree to establish a working group to develop a work programme to deliver the Leisure Strategy over the next five years.

Reasons for Recommendation

To ensure ownership by all parties for the delivery of the Leisure Strategy.

(Cllr Ms Rowlands declared a non-pecuniary interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct by virtue of being a Trustee of Brentwood Leisure Trust).

285.      Green Gym

Green Gyms were an initiative of the Conservation Volunteers who worked with people and communities to transform their health, prospects and outdoor places, for the long term. They aimed to create a better environment where people from all cultures felt valued, included and involved. The Green Gyms would  provide free outdoor sessions where participants were guided in practical activities such as planting trees, sowing meadows and establishing wildlife ponds. Unlike other conservation projects, the emphases was very much on health and fitness as volunteers warmed up and cooled down in preparation for a range of light to vigorous activities to suit all abilities. A number of GPs prescribed Green Gym sessions to patients to encourage them to improve their health and wellbeing.  

The report before Members was to explore the possibility and potential of establishing a Green Gym in the Brentwood Borough.

Cllr Russell MOVED and Cllr Mrs Pound SECONDED the recommendation

 in the report and following a discussion and vote taken on a show of hands it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

That  Members agree to request that Officers explore the possibility of setting up a Green Gym in Brentwood and to report back to a future Committee with full costs and implications.

Reasons for Recommendation

Officers would be able to ascertain the costs of this initiative to see whether it would  be a sustainable project.

There was no urgent business.

________________________

The meeting ended at 19.40 hrs.