Agenda item

6.1

Each Local Area Committee has a £100,000 budget to address local priorities, identified within their respective Community Plans.  This report sets out details of the proposed spending in respect of this £100,000 during the 2022/23 financial year.  This report gives an overview of the general categories of proposed expenditure and seeks authorisation from the South West Local Area Committee to permit the Community Services Manager, in consultation with the LAC Chair, to spend monies to address identified priorities within the Community Plan.

6.2

RESOLVED: That the South West Local Area Committee:-

(i)    Approves the proposed allocated expenditure against the £100,000 budget to address local priorities in the South West LAC in 2023/24, subject to the following amendments:

(ii)   Agrees the use of the 2023/24 £26,697 LAC Cost of Living budget as described in the report namely that 50% of the South West’s allocation (£13,348) is awarded as a grant to Citizens Advice Sheffield to support and increase the capacity of its telephone advice line; and

(iii) 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 the grant funds proposed of up to £5,000.

6.3

Reasons for Decision

The South West LAC is asked to approve the broad allocation of funding under the priority headings identified to assist its ability to monitor its budget, and to authorise the Community Services Manager to approve expenditure above the current delegated authority in certain circumstances so that delivery of the Community Plan is not delayed.

6.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

6.4.1

6.4.2

Decisions on any expenditure above the existing authority to the Community Services Manager could be reserved to the LAC but this would inevitably delay delivery of priority actions to address specific issues identified in the Community Plan.

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.

6.1

Tania Bustamante, South West LAC Manager, referred to the South West LAC Budget 2023-24 Report and the South West LAC Community Plan 2023-24, and outlined the actions and priorities that had been set following the online and paper survey that had been carried out in July/August 2023. Feedback had been received via the survey, from public sessions and through conversations with different groups. The South West LAC team aimed to continue to engage with the community and to keep the survey open so that feedback gained could be included in the Community Plan where possible. She gave a summary of the finance profile for the South West LAC budget for 2023-24, and outlined the feedback that had been received and resulting proposals relating to the themes of Transport and Highways, Local Environment, and Community and Neighbourhoods.

6.2

A member of the public asked if the public were able to comment on the Budget Report and was advised by the Chair that this was not permitted as it formed part of the formal Committee meeting, whereby only Committee Members were able to comment.

6.3

Councillor Minesh Parekh stated that he was pleased with the engagement carried out and how that had helped to inform LAC priorities, and noted that funding via the Economic Recovery Fund had also supported businesses during this process. He noted that he was aware of the lack of a youth voice in the survey and hoped that this could be encouraged in the future. He believed that the Community Plan helped to match comments received via the survey, and continued to build on what was delivered in 2022-23.

6.4

In relation to Item 1 of the South West LAC Budget Report 2023-24, Councillor Ruth Milsom suggested that the wording ‘Unpaid Carers Inaugural Lunch Club’ be changed to allow further conversations with relevant groups to understand their preference of activity and ensure no duplication.  She also felt that ‘Youth Event in Chambers’ might be restrictive, and that a flexible approach to engage with young people would be better.

6.5

Councillor Sue Alston added that she had received feedback during the interactive session stating that some people may find the Town Hall to be an intimidating environment, and agreed that there should be some flexibility around this event.

6.6

RESOLVED: That the South West Local Area Committee:-

(i)    Approves the proposed allocated expenditure against the £100,000 budget to address local priorities in the South West LAC in 2023/24, subject to the following amendments:

(ii)   Agrees the use of the 2023/24 £26,697 LAC Cost of Living budget as described in the report namely that 50% of the South West’s allocation (£13,348) is awarded as a grant to Citizens Advice Sheffield to support and increase the capacity of its telephone advice line; and

(iii)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 the grant funds proposed of up to £5,000.

6.7

Reasons for Decision

The South West LAC is asked to approve the broad allocation of funding under the priority headings identified to assist its ability to monitor its budget, and to authorise the Community Services Manager to approve expenditure above the current delegated authority in certain circumstances so that delivery of the Community Plan is not delayed.

6.8

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

6.8.1

Decisions on any expenditure above the existing authority to the Community Services Manager could be reserved to the LAC but this would inevitably delay delivery of priority actions to address specific issues identified in the Community Plan.

6.8.2

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.