Chief Executive's Office Memo
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DUPLICATE To: COUNCILLOR RAY PUDDIFOOT To sign and return LEADER OF THE COUNCIL c.c. Cabinet Member for Community Commerce and Regeneration c.c. All Members of Executive Scrutiny Committee Democratic Services c.c. Chairmen of Corporate Services & Partnerships and Residents’ & Environmental Services Policy Location: 3E/05 Ext: 0693 Overview Committees DDI : 01895 250693 c.c. Jean Palmer, Deputy Chief Executive and My Ref: GDO Corporate Director c.c. Helena Webster, Residents Services c.c. Northwood Hills, Ickenham, Pinkwell and Uxbridge South Wards c.c. Conservative and Labour Group Offices (inspection copy) Date: 14 May 2014 Non-Key Decision request Form D NEW ALLOCATIONS FOR THE WARD BUDGET SCHEME MAY 2014 Dear Cabinet Member Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply. You should take a decision on or after Thursday 22 May 2014 in order to meet Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your decision on the duplicate memo supplied, and return it to me when you have made your decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published. Gill Oswell Democratic Services Officer Title of Report: New Allocations for the Ward Budget Scheme May 2014 Decision made: Reasons for your decision : (e.g. as stated in report) Alternatives considered and rejected : (e.g. as stated in report) Signed ………………………………………………………Date…………………….. Leader of the Council NEW ALLOCATIONS FOR THE WARD BUDGET SCHEME MAY 2014 Cabinet Members Councillor Ray Puddifoot Cabinet Portfolio Leader of the Council Officer Contact Helena Webster, Residents Services Papers with report Appendix A: Details of projects submitted for the Ward Budget Scheme from 1 April 2014 to 30 April 2014 Appendix B: Ward budget financial summary to 30 April 2014 1. HEADLINE INFORMATION Summary This report seeks Cabinet Member approval to allocate funds from the Ward Budget Scheme for proposals submitted by Ward Councillors. Contribution to our The Ward Budget Scheme will: plans and strategies • build on the Council’s important community leadership role and enhance civic pride; • ensure the Council is putting residents first and listening and responding to the local residents’ needs and priorities; and • assist in the delivery of the sustainable community priorities, focussing on the things that matter most to local people. Financial Cost The overall funds available for the ward based budgets are £330,000 (£15,000 for each of the 22 wards). Proposals to date total £302,012.16, giving a balance of £27,987.84 to allocate. This report seeks Cabinet Member approval to release funds totalling £8,523.00 from four ward budgets leaving a balance of £19,464.84. Relevant Policy Corporate Services & Partnerships Overview Committee Residents & Environmental Services. Ward(s) affected Ickenham, Northwood Hills, Pinkwell and Uxbridge South 2. RECOMMENDATION (1) That the Leader of the Council approves the allocation of £8,523 from the Ward Budget Scheme for the following proposals: Amount £ ICKENHAM Grant to the Friends of Ickenham Hall towards renovation £3,000 work on the 18th century mansion. NORTHWOOD Grant to Hillside Junior School towards installation of LED £ 800 HILLS stage lighting within the school hall. Cabinet Member Report – 14 May 2014 Page 1 PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS Amount £ NORTHWOOD Grant to St. Vincent's Nursery towards building a new £ 500 HILLS playhouse/shop within the nursery garden. NORTHWOOD Grant to the Northwood Live at Home scheme towards the £1,000 HILLS cost of materials for their weekly therapeutic craft sessions. PINKWELL Grant to Crane Youth & Community Association towards £2,000 running a children's club during the school holidays and hosting a lunch event for older people UXBRIDGE SOUTH Grant to the Uxbridge Centre to purchase a weatherproof £ 650 information display panel. UXBRIDGE SOUTH Grant to the 1st Uxbridge Scouts towards creating a mini £ 573 nature reserve. TOTAL £8,523 Reasons for recommendation Individual Cabinet Member decisions issued by Democratic Services from 14 May (therefore to be determined from 22 May onwards), are referred to the Leader of the Council until further notice. Under the Council's Constitution and Cabinet Scheme of Delegations, the Leader of the Council has the authority to take decisions on behalf of Cabinet Members in their absence or unavailability. Each of the proposals submitted comply with the protocol on the use of ward budgets. All Ward Councillors have been made aware of the proposals within this report and, to date, there have been no objections received. Alternative options considered / risk management None. Policy Overview Committee comments None at this stage. 3. INFORMATION Supporting information 1. Cabinet agreed at its meeting in September 2011 to allocate £330,000 from Priority Growth to fund a new Ward Budget Scheme with effect from 1 October 2011. £15,000 is to be allocated to each of the 22 wards. The sum did not have to be spent in the 2011/12 financial year and any unspent balance was carried forward to 2012/13 and 2013/14. Proposals are to be submitted with the agreement of all relevant ward Councillors. 2. Ward budget funding is to be used for proposals that make a difference in a local area and to give residents a chance to influence how their local priorities are met. Primarily the funds are intended for one-off expenditure on physical works, events or activities that have a positive impact within the ward. Cabinet Member Report – 14 May 2014 Page 2 PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS 3. A summary of the proposals approved to date is given in the table below. Seven further proposals covering three ward budgets and totalling £8,523 have been received. The details of these new proposals are set out in Appendix A of the report. Financial Cabinet No. of No. of Total Value Total Balance Year Member Proposals Wards (£) Remaining (£) approval 2011/2012 December 14 9 £ 32,585.31 £297,414.69 January 5 3 £ 8,907.00 £288,507.69 March 20 11 £ 26,641.00 £261,866.69 2012/2013 April 7 5 £ 8,973.10 £252,893.59 May 25 12 £ 34,791.77 £218,101.82 June 18 13 £ 24,025.58 £194,076.24 June 17 10 £ 25,358.40 £168,717.84 Adjusted to allow for revised proposals - £ 2,671.00 £171,388.84 September 20 10 £ 23,950.68 £147,438.16 November 10 7 £ 9,785.00 £137,653.16 December 6 4 £ 9,039.00 £128,614.16 December 8 7 £ 13,130.00 £115,484.16 February 2 2 £ 2,956.00 £112,528.16 February 5 4 £ 5,557.00 £106,971.16 March 4 4 £ 5,000.00 £101,971.16 2013/2014 April 8 5 £ 14,334.00 £ 87,637.16 May 3 2 £ 1,750.00 £ 85,887.16 July 14 10 £ 17,624.00 £ 68,263.16 August 5 3 £ 5,168.00 £ 63,095.16 September 2 2 £ 1,350.00 £ 61,745.16 September 3 2 £ 2,200.00 £ 59,545.16 Interim budget reconciliation Sept 2013 - £ 169.31 £ 59,714.47 October 6 5 £ 3,484.00 £ 56,230.47 Interim budget reconciliation Oct 2013 - £ 284.37 £ 56,514.84 November 4 4 £ 1,643.00 £ 54,871.84 December 2 2 £ 1,450.00 £ 53,421.84 January 4 2 £ 2,120.00 £ 51,301.84 February 9 4 £ 6,742.00 £ 45,059.84 March 10 6 £ 13,899.00 £ 30,660.84 2014/2015 April 3 3 £ 2,673.00 £ 27,987.84 May 7 4 £ 8,523.00 £ 19,464.84 Totals to date 241 n/a £310,535.16 £ 19,464.84 4. Since the commencement of the scheme in October 2011, a total of 241 proposals have been received. Of these, 234 proposals have already been approved covering all 22 wards within Hillingdon and 7 new proposals, for May are recommended within this report. 5. The updated balance of funds for each ward under the Ward Budget Scheme is set out in Appendix B. Cabinet Member Report – 14 May 2014 Page 3 PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS Financial Implications The overall allocation for the Ward Budget Scheme is £330,000, based on a budget of £15,000 for each of the 22 wards in the Borough. The funding for this programme runs from 1 October 2011 onwards, based on the budget for the initiative approved by Cabinet on 29 September 2011. The unspent element of the budget, as at 31 March 2013, has been carried forward as an earmarked reserve. Proposals within this report draw down the budget by £8,523 taking the total spend to £310,535. 4. EFFECT ON RESIDENTS, SERVICE USERS & COMMUNITIES What will be the effect of the recommendation? Ward budgets help Councillors to make a difference in their ward. They address specific local priorities by delivering proposals to benefit residents and local organisations. Consultation Carried Out or Required Consultation with the lead Councillor from each ward and officers internally has taken place, where appropriate. Where other services are involved, such as Residents’ Associations, community organisations, residents and Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, the views of these groups have helped to shape the nature of the proposals. 5. CORPORATE IMPLICATIONS Corporate Finance Corporate finance has reviewed the report and concurs with the budgetary position set out in the financial implications.