Issue - meetings

That the establishment of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Community Fund which allocates Councillor’s a maximum of £2,500 per annum to address local priorities within their wards, as identified by their local communities, be approved.

The Service Director – Finance (Section 151 Officer) presented a report seeking to establish the Newcastle-under-Lyme Community Fund enabling Councillors to respond directly to priorities within their wards.

The Fund would provide each Councillor with up to £2,500 per year and aimed to strengthen community wellbeing, encourage local collaboration and support projects which delivered tangible benefits for residents. Details of how the budgets could be used, and how they should not be used were shown in the protocol at Appendix 1 of the report.

The Deputy Leader thanked the Service Director for his help in initiating the Fund and asked for clarification as to where the money for the project had come from.

The Service Director stated that the £110,000 Fund (£2,500 each for 44 Members) had come from the previous ‘Civic Pride Investment Fund’ which was £22,000.  The remaining £88,000 would be vired from  a previous contribution to the Civic Growth Fund for Sustainable Environment and Town and Place.

The Leader stated that this was exciting and for wards with more than one Member it would mean more money to spend on local projects and, with County Councillor contributions a Borough Councillor could, for example purchase a grit bin and  it would then be the County Council’s responsibility to keep it full and maintain it.

Resolved:    That the establishment of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Community

Fund which allocates Councillor’s a maximum of £2,500 per annum to address local priorities within their wards, as identified by their local communities, be approved.

Watch the debate here