Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Co-operative Communities, Engagement and Partnerships presented the report of the Director: Communities, Customer and Commercial Services.

The report provided an update on the Councillors’ Pride Fund, which allowed each ward Member to allocate funding to projects that would make a difference in their local area. The report summarised what the fund had achieved to date and set out how it would be delivered over the following two years.

The report recommended that each Councillor’s Pride Fund allocation be increased by £3,000 per year to £5,000 per year. The scheme had been a success and received positive feedback from the community and Members alike. It was deemed an important area to provide funding given the events of the previous year, with support for small groups vital.

Members were proud of the fund; it had a real impact on communities, with even a small amount able to have a large effect for small groups.

The Leader of the Conservative Group expressed support for the Pride Fund concept with its tailored support for individual wards.

RESOLVED –

i           That an additional £3,000 allocation per member per year for the periods 2021-22 and 2022-23 funded from the Covid-19 Recovery Reserve be noted;

ii          That the continued impact that the Councillors’ Pride Fund (previously Ward Cooperative Fund) has had since it was launched in 2011 be noted;

iii.        That the change in deadline for this year’s applications as set out in section 4.2.5 be noted; and

iiii.       That delegated authority be granted to the Group Manager of Community Services in consultation with the relevant ward Member(s) to assess and approve or refuse applications for funding in accordance with the grant criteria.