Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Law and Governance

The Assistant Director Law and Governance submitted a report (previously circulated) updating Members with information on the spend and use of the Stronger Communities Fund during the 2021/2022 financial year.

In introducing the report the Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder advised Members that there had been good use of the fund, with only £2,116.50 of the £50,000 remaining unspent.

The submitted report stated that following the establishment of the Stronger Communities Fund, each Councillor was allocated £1,000; were required to enter into an agreement with the Council regarding the use of the funds; and reference was made to the final spend against the £50,000 for the 2021/2022 financial year, together with information on what had been delivered in wards on an individual Councillor basis and details of paperwork received to date (also previously circulated).

It was reported that this Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 6 January 2022, supported the continuation of the pilot scheme in the 2022/23 financial year; that the process for administering the scheme for the 2022/23 financial year had been reviewed following feedback from Members, Officers and the Credit Union; and the updated administration process was outlined, with Members noting that all of the funding for 2022/23 must be given to the grant recipient by 24 March 2023.

Questions were raised in relation to those Members that did not spend their fund in 2021/22; the possibility of allocating the unspent funds from 2021/22; and it was suggested that training be provided for Members to identify and access other funding opportunities to help local projects and community groups.

RESOLVED – (a) That the final spend against the £50,000 for the 2021/2022 financial year be noted.

(b) That the use of the Fund during the 2021/22 financial year be noted.

(c) That the administration process for the fund in the 2022/23 financial year be noted.