Agenda item

The report of West North West Area Leader provides the Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing fund for 2017/18, and the current position of the Small Grants and skips pot and the Small Grants and skips which have been approved since the last meeting.

This report also provides an update on the Youth Activity Fund and the Youth Activity Fund projects which have been approved since the last meeting.

(Report attached)

The report of the West North West Leader provided the Community Committee with an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing fund for 2017/18, and the current position of the Small Grants and Skips pot and the small grants and skips which had been approved since the meeting.

Members noted that paragraphs 4-6 provided information on the process when applying for well-being funding and also the eligibility criteria.

Members were advised of the new revenue Wellbeing allocation for the Outer North West Community Committee of £97,660 for the financial year 2017/18.

It was noted that after deducting any existing commitments and taking account of the 2016/17 carry forward position, the Community Committee had £135,835 of funding available to spend.

Members were disappointed that a full application had not been received from Leeds Watch in respect of CCTV for Horsforth. It was agreed that the decision on the 2016/17 CCTV charges for Horsforth be taken by delegated decision and that the 2017/18 CCTV changes would come to the September committee.

Members were informed that 15 projects totalling £44,148 had been approved by delegated decision for Youth Activity Fund and that £1,723 still remains available to spend.

Members were advised of a new Capital tranche allocation for the Outer North West Community Committee of £14,800 for the financial year 2017/18.

Members noted the finance monitoring at Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

Members of the Outer West Community Committee requested that it be noted that they were unhappy with the cuts to the Wellbeing budget which has resulted in some applications being refused and cuts in the amount of funding given to others. Concerns were raised at the delays in some Council departments supplying the relevant information which caused delays in  spending of Wellbeing funds.

Members requested that the Chair contact them prior to the Chairs Forum in order that they can provide updates on the position of projects in their wards.

Members also discussed changes to the depravation index for the future allocation of funding for Community Committees.

Members raised concerns in relation to the amount of information requested on a Small Grants monitoring and also the number of policy’s requested when small organisations apply for funding.

The Communities Team explained that the form had to have the questions to show accountability for the spending of public funds however offered to look into the concerns of the Committee.

RESOLVED -  The Outer West Community Committee:

·   To note the current budget position for the Wellbeing Fund for 2017/18

·  To note the Finance Monitoring Report attached at appendix 2 of the submitted report.

·   To consider the new Wellbeing large grant applications detailed at points 13-19 of the submitted report with the following applications approved:

·  To note the Small Grants and skips remaining budget and those small grants and skips that have been approved since the last meeting

·  To note the current budget position for the Youth Activity Fund detailed at points 23 and 26 of the submitted report and the Youth Activity Fund projects that have been approved since the last meeting

·  To note the current budget position for the Capital Wellbeing Fund for 2017/18

·  To review the minimum conditions as set out in paragraph 35 of the submitted report, to consider whether any amendments are required, and approve such conditions for operation in 2017/18. These conditions would need to be satisfied prior to an urgent delegated decision being taken in between formal Community Committee meetings in respect of administration or Wellbeing and Youth Activity budgets.

  Councillors Flynn and Downes joined the meeting during this item.