Councillors to be given £5k to spend in their communities
EVERY member of Bridgend council is being allocated £5,000 to spend in their communities.
The Community Action Fund aims to give them the power to address one-off issues or make changes to benefit their constituents such as the installation of play equipment, painting the village hall and the organisation of events or clubs.
The cash could even be used to fill potholes, publish a community newsletter, set up a gardening club or to set up projects to combat unemployment and its impact.
But there will be strict rules about using the cash – which will only be released following an application to the council – with councillors warned its use cannot be politically motivated or in contravention of council policy.
Bridgend County Borough Council’s cabinet is set to meet today to approve the scheme, which will cost £285,000 this year. Each of the 54 councillors will be allocated £5,000 to be spent within this financial year and £15,000 has been set aside to cover administration costs.
In a report set to be considered at the meeting the authority’s head of finance, Randal Hemingway, said: “The broad aims of the fund were to create opportunities for localised intervention by members within their own ward to the benefit of the community. This is hoped to broaden the impact which council funding can have on individual communities and provide a funding source which members can individually use to directly benefit their local ward.”
The cash cannot be given to profitmaking organisations or used for recurring expenditure or go towards a project that would create an ongoing financial commitment.
The report states councillors will have to attend mandatory training before they are allowed to make applications. Unused funds would be returned to the council.