Live broadcast to start at 7pm and available for repeat viewing. 

Apologies had been received from Cllr Tierney and Cllr Russell was substitute.

In the absence of the Vice-Chair, Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr White SECONDED that Cllr Hones act as Vice-Chair for the duration of the meeting.  This was AGREED.

The Minutes of the previous Community & Health Committee held on 13^th September 2021 were agreed as a true record.

Members noted the Chair’s update and thanked the Chair and officers accordingly.

No papers.

A presentation was provided by Kellie Dury on behalf of Axis updating Members on the Social Value aspect of their work in partnership with Brentwood.

This item was removed from the Agenda for discussion at this committee.

The Brentwood Community Fund had been set up to give Brentwood’s communities the opportunity to provide local initiatives to improve the quality of life for local people living in the borough. The Community Fund, of £31,300 is currently allocated within an existing 2020/21 budget, and grants of up to £4,000 are available to applicants. The funding was open from 1 April until 30 September 2021. A summary of the applications and the officers’ scoring sheet is attached in Appendix B of the report.

Mrs Anderson summarised the report advising Members of the scoring process and alternative methods of available funding to unsuccessful organisations.

After a full discussion, Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Hones SECONDED the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Members:

Agree to fund those projects highlighted in green as outlined in Appendix B out of the Community Fund.   

Reasons for Recommendation

Each application had been subject to a robust, independent and transparent scoring process to ensure fairness in the allocation of funding (Appendix C).  Once reviewed, the applications were scored by a panel of officers and a representative from Axis, considering the following key priorities:

a)    Evidence that the bid meets the criteria, the Council’s priorities and expected outcomes;

b)    Evidence that the community has been involved in the development and implementation of the project;

c)    Evidence that the bid supports the promotion of volunteering and community participation;

d)    Evidence that the applicant has sought additional external funding or in-kind value (such as the use of volunteers) for the project; and

e)    Evidence that the project is sustainable once the Council’s contribution has ceased.

Once the applications were individually scored, they were ranked by their score.  The recommendations by officers of the projects that met the key priorities and the amount of funding that is recommended is attached in Appendix B of this report.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced the Community Right to Bid (the Right), a new right for local people to nominate buildings or pieces of land that they believe contribute to the social interests or wellbeing of their local communities to be listed on a register of Assets of Community Value (ACVs), managed by the local authority. The Right applied to public and private property, although there are a number of exceptions under the legislation, including private residences. Where land is listed as an ACV, if an owner of a listed asset subsequently wishes to dispose of it, there will be a period of time during which the asset cannot be sold, or a qualifying lease granted or assigned (a qualifying lease is a lease originally granted for a 25-year term). This period is known as a moratorium and would ultimately be for a period of six months. The moratorium is intended to allow community groups the time to develop a proposal and raise the required capital to bid for the asset when it comes onto the open market at the end of that period. The owner is under no obligation to accept a bid from the community group and can sell the property to whomever they wish once the six-month moratorium is over.

A valid nomination had been received to list Bracken Wood Greens, as an Asset of Community Value and this report asked the Committee to make a decision on this nomination.

Cllr Poppy Moved and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

Cllr Haigh, Ward Councillor, addressed the committee in support of the recommendations.

Cllr Cutherbert, Ward Councillor, also spoke in favour of the report.

Following a full discussion a vote was taken and Members

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

List the land known as Bracken Wood Greens, as indicated on the site map in Appendix B of the report, as an Asset of Community Value.

Reasons for Recommendation

The nomination has passed the Council’s due diligence tests including the submission of evidence that the group is eligible to be nominated. The nomination passes the first statutory test as it clearly furthers the social interests and wellbeing of the local community.

There is a realistic chance that the asset will continue to provide the activities for which it has been nominated. The nomination therefore passes the second statutory tests.

The Council could decide not to list The Bracken Wood Greens as an Asset of Community Value, but this would mean that it was not fulfilling its statutory duty under the Localism Act 2011.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced the Community Right to Bid (the Right), a new right for local people to nominate buildings or pieces of land that they believe contribute to the social interests or wellbeing of their local communities to be listed on a register of Assets of Community Value (ACVs), managed by the local authority. The Right applied to public and private property, although there are a number of exceptions under the legislation, including private residences. Where land is listed as an ACV, if an owner of a listed asset subsequently wishes to dispose of it, there will be a period of time during which the asset cannot be sold, or a qualifying lease granted or assigned (a qualifying lease is a lease originally granted for a 25-year term). This period is known as a moratorium and would ultimately be for a period of six months. The moratorium is intended to allow community groups the time to develop a proposal and raise the required capital to bid for the asset when it comes onto the open market at the end of that period. The owner is under no obligation to accept a bid from the community group and can sell the property to whomever they wish once the six-month moratorium is over.

A valid nomination had been received to list The Bull Public House as an Asset of Community Value and this report asked the Committee to make a decision on this nomination.

Cllr Poppy Moved and Cllr Hones SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

Following a full discussion a vote was taken and Members

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

List the land known as The Bull Public House, as indicated on the site map in Appendix B of the report, as an Asset of Community Value.

Reasons for Recommendation

The nomination has passed the Council’s due diligence tests including the submission of evidence that the group is eligible to be nominated. The nomination passes the first statutory test as it clearly furthers the social interests and wellbeing of the local community.

There is a realistic chance that the asset will continue to provide the activities for which it has been nominated. The nomination therefore passes the second statutory tests.

The Council could decide not to list The Bracken Wood Greens as an Asset of Community Value, but this would mean that it was not fulfilling its statutory duty under the Localism Act 2011.

Based on the success of the results of neighbouring boroughs with large pots of funding from Department of Transport, Essex County Council has recommended that Brentwood Borough Council prepare and publish a Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan as soon as possible, to be ahead of other districts and be able to access national funding pots.

Mrs Anderson summarised the report.

After a full discussion, Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Hones SECONDED the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Members:

1. Agree that officers to prepare a Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LWCIP) for the borough with the help of Essex County Council and specialist consultants.

2. To agree to part-fund the Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan to the sum of £5,000 from Brentwood Borough Council funds.

3. To promote Active travel across the borough with Health and Wellbeing at the forefront.

Reasons for recommendation

The LCWIP for Brentwood will support the Council’s objectives to create healthier communities.  It supports the Government’s sustainable travel objectives.  With greater take up it should help reduce congestion in the borough with more people walking and cycling.  The LCWIP will also support Brentwood’s Health and Wellbeing Board objectives with residents becoming more active and improving their health and wellbeing.

There were no items of urgent business.

                                                            The meeting concluded at 19.55.