Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities presented the report of the Director: Communities, Customer & Commercial Services.

The report provided an update on the 2021 fund. A total of 328 proposals had been submitted to Councillors when the fund was open, and a total of 257 were awarded funding. Since the scheme began in 2011, a total of £1,188,000 had been awarded. Applicants were encouraged to seek match funding for their grants. The funding had been used to support the Council’s priorities.

Projects that had received funding included:

·         Warm Welcome on Wednesday Dementia Support Group in Newport North & West to cover room hire and external agencies providing advice and support.

·         Supporting community events, such as Brookside Central Event.

·         Installation of electric vehicle charging point and recycling bins.

·         A sensory area at Grange Park Primary School for all pupils, but particularly those with additional needs.

Cabinet Members welcomed the variety of projects that had received support from the programme and noted that the funds enabled Councillors to provide flexible support where it was needed.

The Representative from the Conservative Party asked about the programme’s audit process and was assured that this was robust and would continue be rigorous.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The continued impact of the Councillors Pride Fund in supporting Members to deliver the Council’s five priorities in their ward to protect, care and invest in order to create a better borough be noted;

b)   The importance of this funding in offering a bespoke response to need in individual communities and in supporting community organisations to thrive and offer valued services to residents be noted;

c)    The final deadline for applications is 1 February 2023.