To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Neil Emmott, Susan Emmott and Robinson.

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests relating to items on this agenda and/or indicate if S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.   

Declarations of interest were made as follows:-

·         Councillor Peter Williams made personal and prejudcial interests in the submitted funding application for Alkrington Play Area (South Ward) (Appendix 4e) and left the room during the consideration of the item;

·         Councillor Nolan and Councillor Donna Williams declared personal and prejudicial interests in the submitted funding application from Middleton Town Centre Management function (including Christmas lights switch on) (Appendix 5b) and left the room during the consideration of the item;

The Township Committee is requested to appoint a Vice Chair for the 2021/2022 Municipal Year.

Resolved:

That Councillor Donna Williams be appointed Vice Chair of Middleton Township Committee for the 2021/2022 Municipal Year.

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair decides should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

The Chair indicated that there had been four additional applications for funding accepted onto the Agenda and that these had been published on the Council website and circulated to Members of the Committee.

Half an hour has been set aside for members of the public to raise any issues relevant to the business of the Committee and the Township.

The following matters were raised under the Open Forum:

a)    Planning Matters

In response to a representation from Mr P Shaw about the ability of local Councillors to influence planning applications, Committee Members commented that the ability to exert influence had changed due to Government legislation.

b)    Regeneration Projects in Middleton

In response to a representation from Mr P Shaw about investment in regeneration projects in Middleton, it was suggested that the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Communications be invited to a Township Meeting to outline investment and projects in Middleton.

To consider the Minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Committee held on 12^th November 2020 and 11^th March 2021.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Committee held on 12^th November 2020 and 11^th March 2021, be approve as correct records.

To note the Minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub Committee held on 10^th December 2020 and 11^th March 2021.

Resolved:
That the Minutes of the meetings of the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub-Committee held on 10^th December 2020 and 11^th March 2021, be noted.

To consider Middleton Township Delegation Arrangements and Appointments 2021/2022.

The Township Committee considered a report of the Director of Resources seeking confirmation of the delegated decision making arrangements for the year and appointments to Township Sub-Committees, including the Chair and Vice Chair and other bodies for 2021/2022.

Alternatives considered:

The Committee could choose not to appoint to sub-committees and undertake all delegated functions themselves, but this may have a detrimental impact on the ability to progress Township priorities or deal with urgent items of business.

Resolved:

1.    That approval be given to the Sub-Committee structure of the Middleton Township Committee, comprising the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Services Sub-Committee and the terms of reference for the Sub-Committee as detailed within Appendix 1 of the submitted report;

2.    The following appointments be made for 2020/2021:-

·          Middleton Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub-Committee

All Middleton Township Committee Members

            Councillor West (Chair)

Councillor Donna Williams (Vice-Chair)

·          Middleton Township Delegated Sub-Committee

Not be appointed by matters and functions be delegated to the Middleton Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub-Committee or the Chair and Vice Chair of the Township Committee as necessary.

·          Middleton Township Environment and Culture Forum

            All Middleton Township Committee Members

Councillor West (Chair)

·          Middleton Regeneration and Transport Working Party

           All Middleton Township Committee Members

            Councillor West (Chair)

·          Langley Estate Strategy Group

            Councillor Susan Smith; Substitute Member – Councillor Burke

Middleton Town Centre Management Company and Middleton Market Company

Appointments deferred until the next meeting of the Township Committee (Councillor Nolan and Councillor Donna Williams to remain until the next meeting of the Committee)

Brentwood Day Centre – Management Committee

Councillor Donna Williams

Highways Champion

Councillor West

Township Planning Panel

Councillors Susan Smith, Robinson, Dale, Terry Smith, Nolan and West.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council has established and appoints Township Committees that may exercise both executive and non-executive powers as set out in the Responsibility for Council Functions in Part 3 of the Constitution. The Sub-Committee exercises either delegated powers or acts on any matter detailed in the Committee’s Terms of Reference on which it is essential to take a decision. The proper appointment of Sub-Committees is required to permit the undertaking of delegated functions in accordance with statutory and procedural requirements, and appointments to Working Groups and Other Bodies are required to enable the Township Committee to undertake and to respond to the full range of issues relevant to the Township.

Eligible for call in – no

A review of the revenue and capital expenditure during 2020/2021 and provides options for the allocation of funds in 2021/2022.

The Township Committee considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which presented a review of the Township revenue and capital expenditure during 2020/2021 and provided options for the allocation of funds during 2021/2022.

The Township Committee was also requested to approve the allocation of Middleton Township Funds to funding streams, to authorise the terms and conditions, and to agree delegation arrangements concerning funding decisions

Alternatives Considered:

The Committee could decide whether or not to approve the allocation of funds to funding streams and adopt the terms and conditions.

Resolved:

1.    That the expenditure, commitments and balances for Middleton Township revenue and capital funds at financial year end 2020/2021 be noted;

2.    That the findings of the review of Township Funds 2020/2021 and evaluations received to date, for some of the projects funded, be noted;

3.    That the allocation of Middleton Township Funds to funding streams in 2021/2022 be approved (Option 1 for Revenue Fund and Option 1 for Capital Fund);

4.    That the terms and conditions for Middleton Township’s Revenue and Capital Funds for 2021/2022 be approved;

5.    That the delegation arrangements for Middleton Township Funds 2020/2021, as detailed at paragraph 4.6 of the submitted report, be approved.

Reasons for the Decisions:

The management of the Middleton Township Fund is a function that has been delegated to the Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub Committee. Middleton Township Funds were allocated to projects that benefit the Township’s community and environment, and which realised the Township’s priorities.

Eligible for call in – yes