Content

 
 

7.1

Local Area Committees (LACs) were established
by Full Council in May 2021. Their Terms of Reference are set out
in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution and include:
 

·      
To agree a Community Plan setting priorities for the area of the
committee, monitor delivery of that plan and keep it under review;
and
 

·      
To make decisions relating to funding as delegated from time to
time by the Council to fit with the priorities set out in the
Community Plan and following engagement with the community.
 
 

7.2

To enable decisions to be taken quickly and to
respond to emerging issues between Committee meetings, in September
2021 the South West LAC authorised
the
Community Services Manager to make decisions
on expenditure provided that: •
 

·      
The decision is taken in consultation with the Local Area Committee
Chair;

·      
Spending is in line with any specific purposes of the allocated
budget;

·      
The decision may not approve expenditure of more than £5,000,
and

·      
A report detailing the delegated spending decisions taken by the
Community Services Manager is presented to the Local Area Committee
meeting.
 
Spending decisions made under this delegation
have been reported to the LAC at each meeting.
 

7.3

RESOLVED:
That the South West Local Area Committee:-
 

a)   
Notes the expenditure against the £100,000 budget to address
local priorities in the South West LAC
in 2023/23, as detailed in the report.
 

b)   
Notes the expenditure against the £26,697 LAC Cost of Living
budget.
 

c)    
Approves the reallocation of the surplus £10,000 budget
carried forward from 2022/23 to be added to the LAC Ward Funds at
£2,500 for each ward.
 

7.4

Reasons for Decision

 

The South West LAC
is asked to note and approve the allocation of funding under the
priority headings identified to assist its ability to monitor its
budget and to support delivery of the Community Plan.
 

7.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

Decisions on any expenditure above the
existing authority to the Community Services Manager could be
reserved to the LAC but this would inevitably delay delivery of
priority actions to address specific issues identified in the
Community Plan.
 
All decisions on expenditure to support
Community Plan priorities could be delegated to officers. However,
this would restrict and undermine the LAC’s ability to
monitor its delegated budget and delivery of the Community Plan