Agenda item

Decision 3

Agenda Item 10

3.

NORTHERN COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY 2012/13 BUDGET ALLOCATION

The Community Assembly Manager submitted a report containing proposals to allocate funding from the Assembly’s Discretionary Budget 2012/13.

3.1

DECISION TAKEN

RESOLVED: That the Northern Community Assembly:-

(a)       notes the information contained within the report and allocates the remaining £21,988 of the 2012/13 Discretionary Budget to the projects identified in Section 4, namely:

·                    Fund actions/ work identified as a result of three older peoples conferences - £5000

·                    Supporting the work of the Northern Youth Forum £500

·                    Ward Walkabouts, £1000

·                    Additional Highways budget to deliver small schemes alongside the Streets Ahead programme for this financial year, £13,500

·                    Economic Workshops (e.g. Funding, green technology, food and tourism, enterprising mums /dads, specialist business advice, tax returns) £2000

(b)       Delegates authority to the Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Assembly, to -

·                    Agree the particular activities to be funded from the activity budgets agreed in (a) above;

·                    Agree targets, outputs and outcomes for all funded activity with the identified service deliverer and ensure best value for money;

·                    Vary the amount of these allocations by not more than ten per cent in each case, funding permitting; and

·                    Reallocate any further underspend to projects that will tackle one or more priorities within the Northern Community Plan; and

(c)        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 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 she considers appropriate.

3.2

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

(a)       The areas of work are put forward on the basis that they align with the Northern Community Assembly Community Plan priorities and build on the experience of previous funding.

(b)       The allocation of the remaining 2012/13 Northern Community Assembly Discretionary Budget will ensure activity takes place to address some of the priorities as identified in the Northern Community Assembly Plan, namely;

·                    Supporting Local Communities

·                    Safer Roads

·                    Better Parks and Open Spaces

·                    Activities for Children and Young People

·                    Supporting the Local Community

3.3

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

(a)       A number of alternative projects/ activities were considered for funding from the unallocated £21,988 discretionary budget. These were identified through on going consultation and discussions with Councillors and partners. Consideration was given to:

·                    Running an ICDH course (Introduction to Community Development and Health Course)

·                    Broadband and Telecoms Study

·                    Funding Community Organiser Posts

(b)       The options above are not being recommended in the report as a result of one or more of the factors below:

·                    Unable to be delivered in the time frame (ie. by March 2013)

·                    Insufficient information to enable a decision to be taken at this time

·                    Could potentially be resourced from other funding

(c)        The report recommends delegation to the Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Assembly, to reallocate any under spend to projects that will tackle one or more priorities within the Northern Community Plan.

3.4

ANY INTEREST DECLARED OR DISPENSATION GRANTED

None Declared

3.5

REASON FOR EXEMPTION IF PRESS/PUBLIC EXCLUDED DURING CONSIDERATION

Not Applicable

3.6

RESPECTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Richard Webb, Executive Director, Communities Portfolio.

(NOTE:  The relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee to consider a call-in of the decision would be, in this instance, the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee.)

The Community Assembly Manager submitted a report containing proposals to allocate funding from the Assembly’s Discretionary Budget 2012/13.

10.1

Decision Taken

RESOLVED: That the Northern Community Assembly:-

(a)       notes the information contained within the report and allocates the remaining £21,988 of the 2012/13 Discretionary Budget to the projects identified in Section 4, namely:

·                    Fund actions/ work identified as a result of three older peoples conferences - £5000

·                    Supporting the work of the Northern Youth Forum £500

·                    Ward Walkabouts, £1000

·                    Additional Highways budget to deliver small schemes alongside the Streets Ahead programme for this financial year, £13,500

·                    Economic Workshops (e.g. Funding, green technology, food and tourism, enterprising mums /dads, specialist business advice, tax returns) £2000

(b)       Delegates authority to the Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Assembly, to -

·                    Agree the particular activities to be funded from the activity budgets agreed in (a) above;

·                    Agree targets, outputs and outcomes for all funded activity with the identified service deliverer and ensure best value for money;

·                    Vary the amount of these allocations by not more than ten per cent in each case, funding permitting; and

·                    Reallocate any further underspend to projects that will tackle one or more priorities within the Northern Community Plan; and

(c)        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 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 she considers appropriate.

10.2

Reasons For The Decision

(a)       The areas of work are put forward on the basis that they align with the Northern Community Assembly Community Plan priorities and build on the experience of previous funding.

(b)       The allocation of the remaining 2012/13 Northern Community Assembly Discretionary Budget will ensure activity takes place to address some of the priorities as identified in the Northern Community Assembly Plan, namely;

·                    Supporting Local Communities

·                    Safer Roads

·                    Better Parks and Open Spaces

·                    Activities for Children and Young People

·                    Supporting the Local Community

10.3

Alternative Options Considered

(a)       A number of alternative projects/ activities were considered for funding from the unallocated £21,988 discretionary budget. These were identified through ongoing consultation and discussions with Councillors and partners. Consideration was given to:

·                    Running an ICDH course (Introduction to Community Development and Health Course)

·                    Broadband and Telecoms Study

·                    Funding Community Organiser Posts

(b)       The options above are not being recommended in the report as a result of one or more of the factors below:

·                    Unable to be delivered in the time frame (ie. by March 2013)

·                    Insufficient information to enable a decision to be taken at this time

·                    Could potentially be resourced from other funding

(c)        The report recommends delegation to the Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Assembly, to reallocate any under spend to projects that will tackle one or more priorities within the Northern Community Plan.