Agenda item

To consider the report of the East North East Area Leader on the Inner North East Community Committee Wellbeing budget.

Neil Pentelow, Area Officer, presented the report on the Committee’s current budget position which included details of decisions taken under delegated authority for the area since the last CC meeting in December. The report also looked ahead to the budget for 2017/18 and the CC priorities (attached as Appendix 2). Members were in receipt of a supplementary document containing the detail of next years’ budget allocation which had only just been released.

Members noted that the total projected carry forward of £42,429.00 may decrease as schemes currently underway were completed or pending any further delegated approval of schemes to be funded from the 2016/17 year. Currently however no new schemes had been submitted for consideration either by officers or the CC.

During discussions, Members considered the top-slicing arrangements to secure funds for the ward pots, community engagement, festive lights etc. and noted that the 2017/18 funding allocation of £102,840.00 was a 10.5% reduction on the previous year. It was noted that detail of the Youth Activity Fund was not yet available and would be reported to the June CC meeting.

Discussions picked up the theme of health and wellbeing, with comments on:

-  Whether there is any guidance on how to link social prescribing to the work of community committees

-  Whether there is scope within the community committee work plan to undertake an exercise to find out what the community wants from their local health services

-  Funding applications could be reviewed to request details of the health benefits to be provided by the project

-  Noting that food played a huge part in the health and wellbeing of the community, Members noted a suggestion to link to the local “Fare Share” group to consider extending the offer to reach older people

In conclusion, Members agreed to progress these matters through the advisory sub group to consider what could be added to the funding priorities to enhance existing or encourage new projects to address health and wellbeing issues in the locality. A report on the outcome would be presented to Members in due course.

RESOLVED

a)  To note the current balances for the 2016/17 and the spend to date against these budgets as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

b)  To note the budget allocation for 2017/18, as agreed at Full Council on 22^nd February 2017.

c)  To approve the 2017/18 Inner North East Wellbeing Budget top-slicing arrangements as detailed below

d)  To note the delegated decisions made since the last meeting of the Inner North East Community Committee (5^th December 2016) as outlined in paragraphs 19 and 20 of the submitted report.

e)  To approve the Inner North East Community Committee priorities for 2017/18 as outlined in Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

f)  To note that the issues raised during discussions on health and wellbeing and links to the INE CC priorities/funding would be progressed with officers through the Member advisory sub group and a report on the outcome would be presented to Members in due course.