Agenda and minutes

Paul Griffiths, Community Liaison Officer, Neighbourhoods and Adult Services, to report.   

Further to Minute E56 (Members’ Community Leadership Fund – flexibility to carry forward under-spend) of the Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues, consideration was given to the submitted report and budget monitoring information in relation to the current financial year position.   

The report outlined the arrangements that had existed in previous years for the carry forward of under spent budgets in relation to the Community Leadership Fund of £1000 that each Elected Member received.

It was noted that the Former Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel had considered available options for alternative carry forward mechanisms of underspent monies, including imposing a cut off point towards the end of the financial year and allowing all Elected Members to bid on the unspent monies, or requesting that project proposals be submitted by the end of the financial year so that monies could be secured for carry forward.  However, the Panel had recommended that no changes be made to arrangements for the Community Leadership Fund at that time. 

Recent feedback from Members had suggested that there had been an increase in requests for assistance at a time when national, regional and local funding to many projects had been reduced or withdrawn.  Any reduction in funding within the Members’ Community Fund could potentially have a negative impact on the community leadership role of ward councillors, and impact on the value of local democracy and active citizenship.

Resolved: - That a carry forward facility in relation to the Members’ Community Leadership Fund continue to be available at the end of the 2011/12 financial year up to £1000 for each Member.

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues be held on Monday 16^th April, 2012, to begin at 11.30 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.