Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 50/09 of the Head of Corporate Strategy. 

(Time: 3.32pm to 3.39pm)

The executive received and considered report 50/09 of the head of corporate strategy.  The report set out the executive’s community grants budget position and detailed four grant applications. 

Previously, the budget was split in to different agendas: economic, environmental, social and a discretionary proportion.  This guided the executive and the area committees in the allocation of the budget.  However, the executive noted that as the community grants scheme was discretionary, the executive or area committees should not have to apportion the budget this way.  Instead, councillors considered that the budget should support the corporate plan and the sustainable community strategy. 

It was noted that there was a £12,000 deficit in the community grants budget.  This was due to inflationary increases of grant payments to the Abingdon Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the Wantage Independent Advice Centre.  As the council was facing a difficult financial situation, councillors decided to reduce the community grants budget by £15,000.  This addressed the deficit of £12,000 and provided an allowance of £3,000 for any unforeseen costs.  Councillors apportioned the reduction between the executive and the area committees. 

Councillors considered each application, mindful of the limitations on the budget.  Councillors also took into account the statement recorded from the member of the public earlier in the meeting.  Grants were awarded to all four applicants. 

RESOLVED  (by six votes to nil)

(a)       that the remaining budget for 2009/10 for Vale-wide grants be noted;

(b)       that the apportioning of the budget into different agendas be no longer required when the Executive or an area committee is considering or determining community grant applications;

(c)        that the executive’s community grants budget for 2009/10 be reduced by £15,000 and be apportioned between the executive and area committees as follows:

(d)       that the following grant applications be approved: -

(e)       that the executive’s remaining community grants budget for 2009/10 of £2,814 be returned to the council’s general balances.