Agenda item

Report of the Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder.

The Member with Portfolio for Stronger Communities submitted a report (previously circulated) providing Members with information on the spend and use of the Stronger Communities Fund to date, and invited consideration as to whether the scheme should continue in the following financial year.

The submitted report stated that Cabinet, at its meeting held on 6 February 2024, agreed to the continuation of the Stronger Communities Fund for the 2024/25 financial year as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2024/25. It was noted that the fund enabled Councillors to use an allocated amount of money to deliver the objectives of building stronger communities. Each Councillor had been allocated £1,000 with the aim of supporting individuals and groups to enhance access to opportunities to improve health and well-being outcomes, and/or invest in environmental improvements that enhance the local area to the benefit of the local community.

The submitted report also stated that there is no provision for the Stronger Community Fund in the current MTFP proposals and that members should consider this.

The submitted report set out the spend against the £50,000, to date, together with information on what has been delivered in wards on an individual Councillor basis.  It was noted that all of the funding must be given to the grant recipient by 31 March 2025, and that some Members had not, as yet, allocated any funding.

Discussion ensued around the format of the Stronger Community Fund and how it could have been daunting for Councillors to complete the necessary paperwork. It was suggested that if an example of the paperwork could have been given it may encourage Members to utilise their funds.

Members discussed that the Stronger Community Fund had helped Councillors to understand and support their wards through the funding. Members expressed that they could see that the funding helped within their wards and would like it to continue.

RESOLVED - (a) That the current spend against the £50,000 be noted; and

(b) That the Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee be advised that the view of this Committee is that the scheme should continue in the 2025/26 financial year, in its current format.