Contact: Jo White, Policy Officer (Community Strategy) Ext: 5004

e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report makes recommendations in respect of a number of applications for funding from various LSPs across the County, which have either been approved by the Chief Executive or are subject to approval by the Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration.

2. Background

2.1 A budget for supporting projects derived from the County Council's statutory duty to prepare a community strategy has been set up and this includes a budget of £208,000 for pump priming the Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and to develop further community strategies.

2.2 Each of the 11 LSP's are encouraged to bid for money from this budget to support the development of their LSPs and for the pump priming of projects.

2.3 The budget is also available for the development and implementation of the Hampshire Strategic Partnership.

2.4 The Chief Executive can approve amounts of less than £2000. The Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration can approve amounts between £2000 and £5000. Amounts exceeding £5000 must be approved by the Executive Member and referred, with a recommendation to the Leader for decision.

2.5 Appendix B sets out the funding criteria for which bids will be approved. They are intended as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

2.6 These decisions support Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by working together with local people to build strong and safe communities for everyone. In addition these decisions support the themes of the Community Strategy for Hampshire.

2.7 The relevant local Member's views are taken into account through the LSP mechanism.

3. Current bids

3.1 The following bids have been approved by the Chief Executive:

3.1.2 The sum of £233.83 for the Hart Community Partnership to enable a representative from the partnership to attend a one day conference entitled ensuring Local Strategic Partnerships Deliver.

3.1.3 The sum of £500 for the Hampshire Strategic Partnership to meet the remaining costs relating to the production of the Community Strategy for Hampshire and the associated Development Plan.

3.1.4 The sum of £2,000 for the Hampshire Strategic Partnership for the design and production of the summary leaflet of the Community Strategy for Hampshire. 5000 leaflets will be printed and distributed in libraries and information centres across Hampshire.

3.2 The following bids are for consideration by the Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration:

3.2.1 The sum of £5,000 for Networkfareham, ( Fareham LSP) as a contribution towards the cost of employing a part time Networkfareham Coordinator.

3.2.2 The Coordinator will ensure that Networkfareham functions effectively, fulfils its strategic role in relation to the co-ordination of community planning and delivers Fareham's Community Strategy and Action Plan.

3.2.3 Contributions have been secured from three other partners including Fareham Police, Fareham Borough Council and Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust, as well as other partners considering the request.

3.2.4 The salary for the post will be offered at £30,000 per annum at 0.6 pro rata for a week. Networkfareham are also asking that partners consider future funding for a further two years after this one year period.

3.3 The sum of £5,000 for the Hart Community Partnership as a contribution towards appointing a part time Community Partnership Officer to facilitate and co-ordinate the work of the Hart Community Partnership.

3.3.1 The key areas of responsibility will be:

· To provide professional support

· Coordination of the strategy

· Act as liaison with project teams

· Ensure monitoring and evaluation

· Manage the steering group

· Update on trends and policy issues

3.3.2 The salary will be offered at grade 4 £18,012-£21,282 for 2.5 days per week, and contributions have been secured from other partner agencies including Police, Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT, Hart District Council and Sentinel Housing.

3.4 The unspent funds from 2003/04 (£33,470) were carried over into this financial year. Added together this gave a total of £241,470. If the bids above are approved, against the 2004/05 budget, the total spent is £38,174 leaving £203,296 (see attached appendix A).

Recommendations

The following recommendations are sought:

1. To approve the sum of £5,000 for Networkfareham, (Fareham LSP) as a contribution towards the cost of employing a part time Networkfareham Coordinator for one year, to be reviewed annually.

2. To approve the sum of £5,000 for the Hart Community Partnership as a contribution towards the cost of employing a part time Community Partnership Officer to facilitate and co-ordinate the work of the Hart Community Partnership.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

File FM Exec Member Location: Community planning/committee

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