Decision details

To consider future priorities and funding for the projects in Abbey, Arbury and Kings Hedges.

Matter for Decision

The report set out the findings from a review of the three Neighbourhood Community Projects (NCPs) that operate in Abbey, Arbury and Kings Hedges wards. Those wards had the highest overall multiple deprivation scores in Cambridge.

 

The report considered how the 3 NCPs might evolve in the future to ensure they could remain sustainable and carry on their valuable work, given the difficult financial challenges faced by Cambridge City Council.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Community, Arts and Recreation

 

The Executive Councillor resolved:

 

     i.        to thank the 3 NCPs for their valuable work and achievements; 

    ii.        that the existing budgets for the 3 NCPs as shown in the table at 3.10 are protected for 2015/16 but cash limited;

   iii.        that funding proposals for the 3 NCPs for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are agreed in consultation with ward councillors from Abbey, Arbury and Kings Hedges as part of the 2016/17 budget process (i.e. consultation with ward councillors in September / October 2015);

  iv.        that the 3 NCPs are supported and encouraged to maximise opportunities for external funding in order to lessen their financial reliance on the Council in future years; and

   v.        that officers feed-back the comments set out in Section 6 to the 3 NCPs and include them, where appropriate, within their funding agreements for 2015/16.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Community Development who outlined plans for the next year and confirmed that recommendations 2.2 and 2.3 of the report would be included in the budget setting process.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Welcomed the report and were pleased that local groups were being encouraged and supported to thrive in a difficult financial climate.

    ii.        Suggested that Area Committees could have a role in supporting and scrutinising the work of community groups in receipt of grants.

   iii.        Increased use of Ward Councillor in scrutinising local projects was suggested.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Community Development stated the following:

  iv.        ‘Abbey People’ were being supported to move towards a new form of charitable status.

   v.        Arbury NCP were also being guided towards greater independence and income generation.

 

The Head of Community Development undertook to supply members with further information about the governance arrangements for Abbey People outside the meeting.

Councillor Reid proposed the following amendment to the recommendations (additional wording in italic and underlined):

 

2.3       that funding proposals for the 3 NCPs for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are agreed in consultation with ward councillors from Abbey, Arbury and Kings Hedges as part of the 2016/17 budget process (i.e. consultation with ward councillors in September / October 2015);

2.4    that the 3 NCPs are supported and encouraged to maximise opportunities for external funding in order to lessen their financial reliance on the Council in future years

 

The amendments were agreed unanimously.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the amended recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.