Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/038

Contact: Sarah Jelley, Senior Policy & Performance Officer Tel: 07554 103437

Report by Assistant Chief Executive (CA9).

The Councillor Priority Fund will run across two financial years, and will be at the discretion of individual councillors to award and officers will enact their decision under officers' delegated powers. This paper suggests a general criterion for eligible applicants, and two processes for administering the fund to either external organisations, or internal OCC services. It also sets out considerations for councillors in deciding which bids to fund.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          approve the governance arrangements under officers’ delegated powers.

(b)         approve the Councillor Priority Fund Guidance Notes

(c)          approve the Councillor Priority Fund Funding Request Form

(d)         approve the process for Allocation of Funding to Internal Services.

Recommendation agreed.

The Councillor Priority Fund will run across two financial years, and will be at the discretion of individual councillors to award and officers will enact their decision under officers' delegated powers. This paper suggests a general criterion for eligible applicants, and two processes for administering the fund to either external organisations, or internal OCC services. It also sets out considerations for councillors in deciding which bids to fund.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Opposition Leader, referred to the difficulty with individuals or small groups giving funding to Groups on the basis of forms. It was important that the process be equitable with councillors properly trained in relation to grant giving. She felt that without training the decisions would be open to challenge. Councillor Brighouse added that she personally did not support this proposal but if it was to be done then there needed to be greater clarity about what could be funded. More money was involved and greater risk. Councillor Brighouse proposed that the scheme be delayed for consideration by Political Group leaders. That a breathing space would allow consideration of the real problems she feared could ensue to ensure that it is done equitably and with clarity.

During discussion Cabinet supported the proposals and welcomed the greater flexibility provided by the scheme, noting that a previous scheme had been criticised by councillors as being too restrictive. Councillor Gray, Cabinet Member for Local Communities stressed that the money was delegated to councillors to spend in their localities and that he applauded and encouraged councillors to pool their budgets.  

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)          approve the governance arrangements under officers’ delegated powers;

(b)          approve the Councillor Priority Fund Guidance Notes;

(c)          approve the Councillor Priority Fund Funding Request Form; and

(d)          approve the process for Allocation of Funding to Internal Services.