Decision Maker: South East Local Area Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 14, 2026

Purpose:

Content: 30.1 The Committee considered a report of David Luck, Community Services Manager, on the proposed allocation of fund to address local priorities for the South East Local Area Committee (LAC) for 2025-26.     30.2 The Community Services Manager explained that due to underspend and return funds from previous projects and years, it was recommended to allocated £27,0000 towards the Environmental Stewardship Project.     30.3 Councillor Gail Smith, commented that the project had done an amazing job and had completed jobs that otherwise would not had been completed such as refurbishing four benches in Waterthorpe on Thorpe Green.     30.4 Councillor Mick Roobey, explained that the project did not only including work but also part of an education was involved in the project.     30.5 RESOLVED:  That the South East LAC: Notes the expenditure under delegated powers against the £100,000 budget for 2025/26 to address local priorities in the South East LAC as detailed in the report. Agrees the award of further grant funding of £27,000 to continue to fund the environmental stewardship team up to December 2026, subject to the request to carry forward this amount to the 2026/27 LAC budget being approved by the Director of Finance and Commercial Services.     30.6 Reasons for Decision     30.6.1 Spending decisions made by the Community Services Manager under the authority delegated by the LAC in September 2024 are required to be reported to the next LAC meeting so that the LAC can monitor its delegated budget and delivery of the Community Plan.     30.6.2 The further expenditure under delegated authority outlined in the report addresses the identified local priorities within the South East LAC Community Plan.     30.6.3 The proposed use of funding of £27 000 to extend the Environmental Stewardship Team will enable environmental work to be carried out across all four wards within the South East Area to support the priority themes of the Community Plan.     30.7 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     30.7.1 Decisions on all expenditure could be reserved to the LAC but this would inevitably delay delivery of priority actions to address specific issues identified in the Community Plan.       30.7.2 All decisions on expenditure to support Community Plan priorities could be delegated to officers. However, this would restrict and undermine the LAC’s ability to monitor its delegated budget and delivery of the Community Plan.