Decision

1. 1

The Committee considered a report of the Community Services Manager which set out the spending decisions since the previous South West LAC meeting in June 2026, made by the Community Services Manager in consultation with the LAC Chair. The report also recommended that from the remaining £40,000 budget for 2026/27, £2,000 was allocated to administration and community engagement costs, with the remaining £38,000 allocated equally between the four wards as an additional Ward Fund allocation to support projects and activities that deliver against Community Plan priorities and locally identified ward priorities.

1. 2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the South Local Area Committee:-

(a)  Notes the expenditure since the last meeting in June 2026 against the £100,000 budget to address local priorities in the South West Community Plan, as detailed in the report; and

(b)  Agrees the allocation of £2,000 of the 2026/27 budget to administration and community engagement costs, and £38,000 as an additional Ward Fund allocation to be split equally between the four wards (£9,500 per ward).

1. 3

Reasons for Decision

1. 3.1

Spending decisions made by the Community Services Manager under the authority delegated by the LAC in September 2021 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 further allocation of funding for 2026/27 outlined in the report addresses local priorities within the Community Plan.

1. 4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

1. 4.1

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.