Agenda item

The Community Assembly Manager submitted a report providing a final update on the allocation of funding from the Community Assembly’s Discretionary Budget 2012/13, and setting out information where underspends in the Budget had been re-allocated, under delegated powers, by the Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Assembly.

7.1

Public Questions

Members of the public raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                     Funding for the security gate at Walkley Library had not been utilised due to delays in implementation.

·                     The allocations from the Discretionary Budget have to be spent before 31^st March 2013.  The additional street cleaning in Broomhill and Central Wards had to be completed by 30^th June 2013.  It was envisaged that all the funding would be spent within these timescales.  In terms of the street cleaning, the funding had been allocated and the arrangements had been agreed with Amey.  It was planned that the deep cleans would be scheduled to be undertaken in between the day to day street cleaning works. 

·                     In terms of street cleaning, Amey were well aware of the problems caused by cars on streets when it was attempting to undertake the cleaning.  Leaflets have been sent to households and posters have been put on lampposts and other street furniture, warning of the dates of street cleaning, and requesting people to move their cars to alternative streets where possible.  It was accepted that this was very difficult in some areas, such as Walkley and Crookes, where there was very little alternative in terms of places to park.

·                     Whilst there was a team of officers who patrolled areas, issuing spot fines to people who dropped litter, there was not enough funding to employ more such officers. 

·                     Amey would clear up any dog waste on pavements or roads under the Streets Ahead Project, but the dog waste bin service was operated by the Council. 

·                     Whilst it was accepted that the majority of litter in the Broomhill area was caused by people walking back to the area from pubs in town, or on the route from town, apart from providing waste bins, the Council did not have sufficient resources to fund enforcement work.

·                     Whilst there were no such arrangements in place at the present time, the Council could look at the possibility of giving Parking Services staff responsibility for issuing spot fines to people dropping litter, whilst they were out on duty. 

·                     Whilst there had been a number of campaigns targeted at students regarding their responsibilities in terms of disposing of litter safely, there had not been any similar such campaigns targeting non-students living in student areas.  However, the Council would work with Amey to keep the City’s streets clean.

7.2

Decision Taken

RESOLVED: That the Community Assembly notes and welcomes the final funding allocations from its Discretionary Budget 2012/13.

7.3

Reasons for Decision

Whilst the funding allocations set out in the report have already been made using delegated powers, it is important that a complete and transparent record of the budget spent is presented in public, to fulfil the remit of the Community Assembly.

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

Alternative options for using the budget have been considered, and these have been reported to previous Assembly meetings.