Decision details

The report will seek a decision on a revised set of criteria and decision-making process for Councillor’s devolved ward budgets.

Members local project fund was established in May 2017 to enable Cllrs to support local priorities and activity in their wards, to support council priorities and enable communities to do more.

At Budget Council meeting in March 2024 the ward budget was reduced from £20k to £10k per ward to deliver budget savings of £230k. To ensure the ward budget is maximised the criteria will be updated so funding can continue delivering value for money for residents, encourage greater collaboration by working with partners and local communities to identify shared priorities and to proactively pursue opportunities for match funding through external grants and donations.

Decisions on spend will be published on the Councils website and online grant application processes developed where ward budgets are used as grant funding for third sector organisations.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the Devolved Ward Budgets criteria and decision making process, as set out at Appendix A.

2)    That, pursuant to (1) above, any further amendments be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member