Agenda item

6.1

In 2021 each LAC was allocated an initial budget of £100,000 to be spent in line with their Community plan. The North Lac Community Plan was agreed in March 2022 and the unspent portion of the £100,000 budget was carried forward to 2022/23.

6.2

It is proposed to develop two new grant funds of £25,000 each to be allocated in 2023/24 from the total LAC budget of £100,000.

The first grant fund is the ‘North LAC Greatest Need fund’. This contributes to the LAC priority of vibrant community life and the goal in the Community Plan of the North becoming a connected place where people can access what they need to play an active part in their community – within this the fund supports the North LAC’s commitment to supporting those in greatest need.

Grants of up to £5000 will be awarded for those proposing projects that address needs facing residents in the North in areas

6.3

The second fund is the ‘North LAC Big Idea Fund’. Grants of up to £5000 will be awarded for those proposing projects that contribute to addressing one of the three LAC priorities:

•       Safe roads and effective transport links

•       Clean and attractive environment

•       Vibrant community life

6.4

It is proposed that the Community Services Manager, in consultation with the LAC Chair, is authorised to finalise the eligibility criteria and make decisions on expenditure relating to the grant applications received. Bids will be assessed by the LAC team and agreed. Applications will be shared with the relevant Ward Members for comment in advance of decisions being taken, and expenditure reported to the next meeting of the LAC.

6.5

RESOLVED: That the North Local Area Committee:-

(1) notes the expenditure against the £100,000 budget to address local priorities in the North LAC in 2022/23, as detailed in the report;

(2) agrees the use of the 2023/24 £100,000 LAC budget as described in the report;

(3) approves the establishment of two new grant funds of £25,000 each from 2023/24 funds, one to address work with those in greatest need and one to encourage innovative ways of working, as described in the report; and

(4) authorises the Community Services Manager, in consultation with the Local Area Committee Chair, to finalise the eligibility criteria and make decisions, following engagement with the relevant Ward Members, on the award of grants of up to £5,000 from the two funds,

6.6

Reasons For Decision

The North LAC is asked to note the use of funding as per the previous decision of September 30th 2021 and agree further expenditure to address the identified local priorities. The approach to the 23/24 budget and new funds proposed provides a strategic and flexible approach to meeting the needs of the North in line with the North community plan

6.7

Alternative Considered And Rejected

This report is in line with the previous decision of September 30th 2021 regarding expenditure below £5000 and the North Community Plan agreed on March 9th 2022. Members have the option to consider the budget as four ward budgets of £25,000 but have indicated they do not believe this is a strategic and flexible approach to the budget. Funds will be tracked during the year to ensure a fair approach to meeting need across the whole LAC area with the funds remaining, which give scope for further initiatives, particularly when the community plan is refreshed in September 2023. An alternative option was not to allocate the level of funding to the two new funds proposed. However, these funds give opportunity for partners to help address key LAC priorities and if suitable bids are not received fund will be able to be reallocated.

6.1

David Luck, North Local Area Committee Manager, gave a report to the Committee. He mentioned that the LAC had recently funded 8 coronation events.

6.2

It was reported that ward pots were open for local groups to apply for and the breakdown of the amounts available for each ward were as follows: -

·       East Ecclesfield: £6766

·       Stannington: £5583

·       Stocksbridge & Upper Don: £6297

·       West Ecclesfield: £6492

6.3

In addition to in-person consultation, It was stated that a LAC Survey had recently launched, asking members of the public what one big difference they would like to see in the North area. The results of that will be reviewed and fed back into the next meeting of the North Local Area Committee in September.

6.4

David Luck explained that he, as North Local Area Committee Manager, had delegated authority to spend up to £5000 in-between formal meetings of the LAC so that projects could be carried out. The following expenditure to note since the previous meeting of the LAC were as follows: -

·       2022/23 budget – Stannington Crossing Ahead Sign - £569

·       2023/24 budget – Haggstones Road ‘Slow’ marking - £697

·       2023/24 budget – Wharncliffe Side site visit - £183

·       2023/24 budget – Loxley tapping rail repairs - £700

6.5

David Luck highlighted the budget proposals for 2023/24.

6.6

RESOLVED: That the North Local Area Committee:-

(1) notes the expenditure against the £100,000 budget to address local priorities in the North LAC in 2022/23, as detailed in the report;

(2) agrees the use of the 2023/24 £100,000 LAC budget as described in the report;

(3) approves the establishment of two new grant funds of £25,000 each from 2023/24 funds, one to address work with those in greatest need and one to encourage innovative ways of working, as described in the report; and

(4) authorises the Community Services Manager, in consultation with the Local Area Committee Chair, to finalise the eligibility criteria and make decisions, following engagement with the relevant Ward Members, on the award of grants of up to £5,000 from the two funds,

6.7

Reasons For Decision

The North LAC is asked to note the use of funding as per the previous decision of September 30th 2021 and agree further expenditure to address the identified local priorities. The approach to the 23/24 budget and new funds proposed provides a strategic and flexible approach to meeting the needs of the North in line with the North community plan

6.8

Alternative Considered And Rejected

This report is in line with the previous decision of September 30th 2021 regarding expenditure below £5000 and the North Community Plan agreed on March 9th 2022. Members have the option to consider the budget as four ward budgets of £25,000 but have indicated they do not believe this is a strategic and flexible approach to the budget. Funds will be tracked during the year to ensure a fair approach to meeting need across the whole LAC area with the funds remaining, which give scope for further initiatives, particularly when the community plan is refreshed in September 2023. An alternative option was not to allocate the level of funding to the two new funds proposed. However, these funds give opportunity for partners to help address key LAC priorities and if suitable bids are not received fund will be able to be reallocated.