Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides the Area Committee with an update on One Stockport frogs and to seek the authorisation of the Area Committee Delegated Budget towards the costs.

The Area Committee is recommended to give approval to £2,400 for “Hazel Frog” to be funded from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove Ward Allocation).

Officer contact: Helen Waters on 0161 474 3734 or email: helen.walters@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Area Committee with an update on One Stockport frogs and seeking the authorisation of the Area Committee Delegated Budget towards the costs.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·      It was queried why funding for “Hazel Frog” was coming from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Hazel Grove Ward Allocation) when both other Frogs for this Committee were being funded by the Place Directorate Reserve Budget.

·      That despite initial positive reactions from local businesses regarding sponsorship of the Frogs ultimately funding was not secured for multiple wards.

·      That the initial impression Members were given was that if sponsorship was not secured, funding for ward Frogs would come from the Delegated Budget of the relevant ward, yet it appeared that there was funding available from a central source.

·      That it was difficult to secure sponsorship for a display that would only be present for a limited number of weeks.

·      Clarification was sought in relation to the ongoing maintenance and repair costs of the Frogs and whether this would be funded from the Delegated Budget.

·      A number of community organisations had expressed an interest in purchasing a Frog but had been deterred by the risk and responsibility of damage to the Frog.

It was clarified by a representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) that the funding for Town Centre Frogs was dealt with differently than those in the Stockport districts, and that Members had been initially advised that any shortfall in sponsorship would be met from the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget, however had subsequently been given the option for funding to come from the Place Directorate Reserve Budget.

RESOLVED – That the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to give approval to:- 

(1) The allocation of £2,400 from the Place Directorate Reserve Budget for the full cost of the ‘Industry meets Nature’ that had been located in Offerton Precinct.

(2) The allocation of £2,400 from the Place Directorate Reserve Budget for the full cost of the ‘Florence Frog’ that had been located in Stepping Hill Precinct.

(3) The allocation of £2,400 from the Place Directorate Reserve Budget for the full cost of the ‘Hazel Frog’ that had been located in Hazel Grove Precinct.