Agenda item

Summary of Item 

The Community Assembly Manager reported that the discretionary budget allocation for the East Community Assembly for 2012/13 was £336,958. It was noted that some allocations of funding from the East Assembly Discretionary Budget 2012/13 had already been agreed at the Assembly meetings held on March 29^th 2012 and 21^st June 2012.     

The report now submitted outlined proposals for funding of £73,857 of additional named projects from the remaining funds for Ward based projects, with allocations of the remaining unallocated funding of £58,600 to be delegated to the Assembly Manager in Consultation with the Chair. All funding allocations made between October and December 2012 would be reported at the Assembly meeting to be held December 2012. 

Decision Taken

RESOLVED: That the East Community Assembly;

(a) considers the information contained within the report now submitted and agrees to allocate East Community Assembly discretionary funding to the various ‘New projects for decision Sept 2012’ , as set out in section 4 of the report now submitted;

(b) delegates authority to the East Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair, to work up and agree the details of the proposed allocations and projects set out section 4 of the report now submitted;

(c) delegates authority to the East Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair, to agree the allocation to projects that meet the Assembly’s priorities of all unallocated funding as indicated in section 4 of the report now submitted, together with any funds unclaimed or returned by any of the projects referred to in the report now submitted, and requests the Manager to report back to the Assembly’s December meeting with details of all allocations made under this delegation, and

(d) authorises the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, to agree the terms on which all funding referred to in the report now submitted is made available, and to enter into such funding agreements with recipients of the funding and any other related agreements or arrangements, and on such terms, that s/he considers appropriate.

Reasons For The Decision

The purpose of the Discretionary Budget is to help fulfil the priorities of the East Community Assembly Plan. These priorities were identified through consultation with local residents, groups and partners during 2011.    The East Assembly Community Plan priorities currently are:

• Tackling unemployment and increasing skills
• Tackling poverty
• Stronger communities
• Safer communities
• Improving the environment
• Transport and Highways
• Better health

Educational attainment is seen as the overarching priority that all projects and activity funded by the Assembly should be tackling in 2012/13. All the projects proposed for funding contribute to one or more of these priorities.

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

The priorities of the Assembly were agreed in September 2011. The Assembly Manager has regular discussions with partners and the community about ideas for possible projects. Those that meet the priorities of the Assembly are worked up into a project proposal. All of these current proposals are being recommended for funding. Other projects may be considered in the future if funds permit and they meet the priorities of the Assembly.

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

Councillor Lynn Rooney declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 (East Community Assembly Budget Update), as a member of the Management Committee for the Stradbroke and District Community Association, but remained in the room for the duration of the item.

Councillors Martin Lawton and Pat Midgley declared personal interests in agenda item 7 (East Community Assembly Budget Update), as members of the Manor Castle Development Trust, but remained in the room for the duration of the item.   

Councillor Terry Fox declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 (East Community Assembly Budget Update), as a member of Manor Rights Advice Centre, but remained in the room for the duration of the item.      

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

Not applicable.

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Richard Webb, Executive Director, Communities Portfolio.

(NOTE: Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee for Call-in: Safer and Stronger Communities)