Decision

7.

CENTRAL LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE BUDGET REPORT

1. 1

The Committee considered a report of the Community Services manager which set out the spending decisions made by the Community Services manager in consultation with the Central Local Area Committee Chair, in accordance with the delegation granted by the North East Local Area Committee at its meeting on 8th October 2024.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Central Local Area Committee:

(a)  notes the total expenditure for 2025/26 to address local priorities in the Central LAC Community Plan as detailed in the report: and

(b)  agrees the allocation of the £100,000 budget (£25,000 per ward) for the year 2026/27 to address the local priorities.

1. 2

Reasons for Decision

Spending decisions made by the Community Services Manager under the authority delegated by the LAC in October 2024 are required to be reported to the next LAC meeting so that the LAC can monitor its delegated budget and delivery of the Community Plan.

The proposed allocation of LAC funding to each ward outlined in the report, addresses the identified local priorities within the Central LAC Community Plan.

1. 3

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

Decisions on all expenditure 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.