Purpose

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.

Content

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