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

e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1. The following decisions are sought:

To approve the sum of £11,000 for the Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership to reappoint the Partnership Manager to co-ordinate the planning, projects and monitoring of the LSP.

The Executive Member (Community Development) should be given delegated authority to approve spending of up to £10,000 on individual projects / applications rather than the current limit of £5,000.

2. Reasons:

2.1 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.

3. Other Options considered and rejected: Not to approve these allocations

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other executive member 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: 15 September 2004

Councillor TK Thornber

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 £5,000. Amounts exceeding £5,000 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 bid is recommended to the Leader for approval:

3.2 The sum of £11,000 for the Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership to reappoint the Partnership Manager to co-ordinate the planning, projects and monitoring of the LSP.

3.3 The post was appointed on a 3 year basis in May 2003 and at that time £10,000 was granted in support with matched funding on a one year basis, with the option to reapply on an annual basis.

3.4 This bid represents the second year of funding with an increase to £11,000 to cover inflation costs.

3.5 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 £86,623 leaving £154,847 (see attached appendix A).

4. Limits for delegation

4.1 As experience of community planning has increased, so the financial support required to support community planning initiatives successfully has become more established. Consequently, it is now felt that the broader consideration of issues achieved through involving the Executive Member (Policy & Resources) in the decision process is less of a factor than previously. Furthermore, there is advantage in streamlining comparatively routine processes. Consequently it is recommended that the Executive Member (Community Development) should be given delegated authority to approve spending of up to £10,000 on individual projects / applications rather than the current limit of £5,000. Such approvals would, of course, still need to remain within the overall budget available. (see paragraph 2.4)

Recommendations

The following recommendations are sought:

1. To approve the following allocation:

The sum of £11,000 for the Basingstoke and Deane Local Strategic Partnership to reappoint the Partnership Manager to co-ordinate the planning, projects and monitoring of the LSP.

2. The Executive Member (Community Development) should be given delegated authority to approve spending of up to £10,000 on individual projects / applications rather than the current limit of £5,000.

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

reports