The Outer North East Community Committee met to discuss the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the committee's forward plan, and to allocate funding from the Wellbeing Fund. The committee agreed to note the update on the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) scheme, to note the contents of the Outer North East Community Committee Forward Plan for 2025/26, and to approve a number of applications to the Wellbeing Fund, while deferring a decision on one application.

Wellbeing Fund Allocations

The committee approved a number of applications to the Wellbeing Fund and the Youth Activity Fund (YAF) for 2025/26. A total of £20,250 was allocated to the following projects:

• Arthington Cricket Club Digital Cricket Scoreboard - £2,400
• Cranmer Bank Bench - £2,350
• Lingfield Centre Shutter Repair and Refurbishment - £5,000
• Winter Gritting 2025/26 - £5,000
• Barwick in Elmet Beer Festival 2025 - £500
• Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Project - £2,000 (of the £8,000 requested)
• Bramham Christmas Tree and Christmas Lights - £1,000 (of the £1,735.20 requested)
• Walton Events 2025 - £2,000

The committee deferred a decision on the Community Eco Energy Fair 2025 project, requesting additional information to review the accounts thoroughly. The committee noted that the project could be approved via delegated decision once the additional information had been received, or MICE funding¹ could be used, depending on the timeframe.

King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS)

The committee received an update on the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS). Sue Baker MBE JP DL, Former Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, presented the item and encouraged members to nominate voluntary organisations for the award, noting that the 2026 award scheme was open for nominations from 1 September to 1 December 2025.

The KAVS is a prestigious award for volunteer groups, and the award is retained for the lifespan of the organisation. Ms Baker noted that it would allow increased funding opportunities with the nationally recognised accreditation.

Councillor Norma Harrington, Chair of the Outer North East Community Committee, noted her previous involvement with an organisation that had received the award, and said that the process was not onerous and that there was good support from KAVS throughout the process.

Ms Baker clarified that the award did not include any monetary funds, but that the organisation would receive a certificate and glassware, which would promote the organisation and potentially lead to accessing increased funding opportunities through the applied recognition. She also clarified that the KAVS was separate to any individual award or honours through the King, although there had been instances where an individual from an awarded organisation was then nominated for individual honours.

Outer North East Community Committee Forward Plan 2025/26

The committee were asked to note the Outer North East Community Committee Forward Plan for 2025/26. The plan details the agreed Community Committee meeting dates and sets out Champion themes, as well as providing an update on engagement activity with local communities.

The Localities Officer noted that the report contained a forward plan schedule, which was currently blank due to the Delivery Groups having not yet met. They also noted that representation from each ward was sought to sit on each Delivery Group, with nominations via email outside of the meeting deemed appropriate to allow time for consideration.