Purpose

This report seeks approval to delegate authority for the administration and allocation of funding held within the New Forest Community Lottery Central Fund to the Service Manager – Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing.

This will enable community lottery funding to be distributed efficiently and transparently to eligible community and voluntary sector organisations in accordance with the objectives of the Community Lottery and the Council’s priorities.

Decision

On 26 August 2026, Cllr Dan Poole, the Portfolio Holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing made the following decision:

To delegate authority to the Service Manager, Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services, in consultation with Portfolio Holder, Community, Safety and Wellbeing to determine the allocation and distribution funding held within the New Forest Community Lottery central fund to eligible community and voluntary sector organisations.

Any member of the Council, who is not a Portfolio Holder, who considers that this decision should be reviewed should give notice using the call-in facility at the top of this page on the Council’s intranet / extranet site. Alternatively, notice can be given to the Monitoring Officer (Matt Wisdom) (in writing or by e-mail) to be received ON OR BY 5.15 pm on 3 September 2026.

Details of the document the Portfolio Holder considered are attached below.

Following consideration of the call-in request by the Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel on 16 September 2026, the Panel supported the original decision. The Portfolio Holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing has subsequently reaffirmed that decision.

Reasons for the decision

To facilitate and distribute funds held in the central fund of the New Forest Community Lottery to support good causes and provide greater financial assistance

Alternative options considered

See report