Decision details

19.1

To enable decisions to be taken quickly and to respond to emerging issues, in September 2021 the LAC granted delegated authority to the Community Services Manager to make certain decisions on expenditure. At its meeting on October 1^st 2024 this delegation was reviewed in order to enable financial decisions to be made more quickly, given the delays caused by the two pre-election periods (local election and general election). The Community Services Manager is now authorised to make decisions on expenditure from any budgets allocated to the Local Area Committee provided that:

•The decision is taken in consultation with the Local Area Committee Chair

• Spending is in line with any specific purposes of the allocated budget

• The decision may not approve expenditure of more than £10,000 per item. 

• A report detailing the delegated spending decisions taken by the Community Services Manager is presented to the next Local Area Committee meeting.

19.2

Funding delegated by Full Council to LACs in 2024/25 amounts to £100,000 per LAC.  At its meeting on October 1^st 2024 the South LAC agreed to use its £100,000 allocation to provide £25,000 per ward to develop projects in line with the South LAC Community Plan

19.3

Since the previous LAC meeting the following expenditure has been approved under the delegation set out above:

Based on this expenditure the total expenditure to date is £44,432 leaving a balance of £55,568

Nether Edge & Sharrow has an additional £2911 to reallocate from 2023/24 funds carried forward into 2024/25.

19.4

At the South Local Area Committee meeting on the 3^rd December 2024 the Local Area Committee Manager advised that the Nether Edge and Sharrow Councillors wished to allocate their remaining budget of £20,000 for local parks improvements.

19.5

RESOLVED:  That the South Local Area Committee

1.    Notes the funds spent under delegated powers since the October 2024 South LAC meeting.

2.    Agrees to allocate the remaining £20,000 of the Nether Edge and Sharrow budget to local parks improvements.

19.6

Reasons for Decision

The South LAC is asked to note delegated decisions in respect of LAC funding to address the identified local priorities within the South LAC Community Plan.

19.7

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

The South LAC is asked to note delegated decisions in respect of LAC funding to address the identified local priorities within the South LAC Community Plan.