Contact: Peter Robertson - Ext 7300

1. Decisions sought

1.1. That the Chief Executive be authorised to agree contributions, in any one year, totalling up to £2,000 per partnership.

1.2. That Councillor D.A. Kirk, Executive Member for Community Development, be authorised to agree sums between £2,000 and £5,000 in any one year per partnership.

1.3. That the Leader, be authorised to agree sums exceeding £5,000 in any one year per partnership.

1.4. That those commitments made in implementing this policy be reported every six weeks to the Leader and Councillor D.A. Kirk.

1.5. That the partnership funding be met from the County Council's Community Development budget.

2. Reason

2.1. A statutory duty has been imposed on principal local authorities to produce Community Strategies with the aim of improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of the area. Eleven district strategies are currently being prepared by a range of partners with the County Council as a statutory participant in each partnership.

2.2. In recognition of its key involvement it is proposed that the County Council respond to requests for funding from each of the 11 District partnerships and a Community Development Budget has been set up for this purpose. The requests for district partnerships will vary both in the amount sought and the work to be undertaken. Requests are likely to include:

- start-up process

- production of the Strategy

- consultation

- pump priming for projects

2.3. It is critically important that officers attending meetings on behalf of the County Council are able to make commitments to the above partnership costs, without referring back for a formal decision and for the Leader and Executive Member for Community Development to make decisions when the need arises.

2.4. The decisions sought reflect this; it is suggested a six weekly report on commitments be made to the Leader and Executive Member for Community Development.

3. Other options considered and rejected

Not applicable.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

Not applicable.

Approved by .................................... Date ...............................

Councillor T K Thornber, CBE

5dR530602