Issue - meetings

This report proposes how to use the additional investment of £150k in 2016/17 and 2017/18, agreed by Budget Council in February 2016, to support the Pride in York local delivery of environmental projects and grounds maintenance, and to build capacity in the voluntary sector.

The Executive Member for Economic Development & Community Engagement (Deputy Leader) will make this decision in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment and the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism.

Resolved: That;

(i)           That the allocation of £100k funding to wards as set out in Annex 1 be agreed.

(ii)          That the core standards set out in Paragraph 7 of the Officer’s report be agreed.

(iii)        That the funding of £50k be used on a city wide basis from a combination of Paragraph 13 a) and b) of the Officer’s report.

Reason: To support community initiatives to improve York’s parks and open spaces.

The Executive Member considered in consultation with the Executive Members for Environment and Culture, Leisure and Tourism a report which proposed using additional investment of £150k in 2016/17 and 2017/18, to support the Pride in York local delivery of environmental projects and ground maintenance, and to build capacity in the voluntary sector.

Officers stressed the importance of greater co-ordinated volunteer activity currently taking place, and  informed the Executive Members of projects within the city, such as in Hull Road Park. They reported that, in this park, Section 106 monies had helped to rebuild the tennis courts; however, there were still outstanding issues such as the beck which was visually unattractive and which would need additional money to dredge. It was reported that the fund could breathe life into potential masterplans to take forward relevant projects in each of the city’s parks and gardens.

It was questioned whether the Core Tasks had been set out clearly so that communities understood what the Council would do and where community groups could add value. The Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism felt there to be a risk in diluting £50,000 of funding between supporting volunteering activity and targeting projects in wards that had been affected by previous reductions. The Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement suggested that the funding be used in a combined way to target both priorities if possible.

Resolved: That;

(i)           That the allocation of £100k funding to wards as set out in Annex 1 be agreed.

(ii)          That the core standards set out in Paragraph 7 of the Officer’s report be agreed.

(iii)        That the funding of £50k be used on a city wide basis from a combination as set out in Paragraph 13 a) and b) of the Officer’s report.

Reason: To support community initiatives to improve York’s parks and open spaces.