Issue - meetings

This report sets out a review of the use of ward funding during 2020/21 and identifies issues and opportunities for 2021/22. 

Resolved:

(i)           That the analysis of ward funding, set out in the report, be considered.

(ii)         That the success of ward budgets in responding to Covid-19 be noted.

(iii)        That the diverse range of effective ways in which ward funding was being used to support local communities be noted.

(iv)        That the potential priority areas set out in paragraph 17 of the report be recommended to ward members and be followed in order to focus support for residents deemed vulnerable, isolated, or in need of other essential help and to combat the worst effects of Covid-19.

(v)         That the effectiveness of ward funding to meet community needs, hearing the voice of the community and charitable groups that have utilised ward funding, be noted.

Reason: So that ward funding would be used effectively to:

•        Engage residents in making better local use of resources.

•        Enable ward members to deliver on local priorities. 

The Executive Member considered a report that set out a review of the use of ward funding during 2020/21 and identified issues and opportunities for 2021/22. 

The Assistant Director of Communities & Culture and the Communities and Equalities Manager were in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

The Executive Member expressed his thanks to the public speaker and noted that Ward Members were allocated funding proportionally through the population they represented and whilst the changes made to allocating by ward population brought subtle changes, these were relatively minor.  He stated that as a response to Covid-19 there was a commitment that at a city level residents would receive the support needed. The Executive Member confirmed that following the meeting he would respond further to the speaker and to a written representation he had received.

The Assistant Director confirmed that wards were making very effective use of their ward funding to meet local need and in particular were responding in innovative ways to identified ward priorities.  He also highlighted how ward funding had been efficiently used to respond to issues arising from the pandemic and in support of the community and voluntary sectors.

The Communities and Equalities Manager responded to questions raised by the Executive Member and she confirmed that officers were considering future priority areas to support communities going forward and that the flexibility of ward funding offered the opportunity to test approaches that could influence and inform future strategic programmes or investment.

The Executive Member recognised the importance of ensuring Ward Members could use the ward funding process to respond to localised need and he thanked officers for their report. He commended the Communities and Equalities Manager and all the Community Involvement Officers for their work and commitment to support communities during the last year.

Resolved:

(i)           That the analysis of ward funding, set out in the report, be considered.

(ii)         That the success of ward budgets in responding to Covid-19 be noted.

(iii)        That the diverse range of effective ways in which ward funding was being used to support local communities be noted.

(iv)        That the potential priority areas set out in paragraph 17 of the report be recommended to Ward Members and be followed in order to focus support for residents deemed vulnerable, isolated, or in need of other essential help and to combat the worst effects of Covid-19.

(v)         That the effectiveness of ward funding to meet community needs, hearing the voice of the community and charitable groups that have utilised ward funding, be noted.

Reason: So that ward funding would be used effectively to:

•        Engage residents in making better local use of resources.

•        Enable ward members to deliver on local priorities.