Issue - meetings

To consider the Members New Homes Bonus Scheme 2017/18 report.

RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the Members New Homes Bonus Scheme 2017/18 spend.

2.    Agree the revised Members New Homes Bonus Scheme criteria as set out below:

a. It has to be spent for the direct community benefit of the member’s ward.

b. Any unspent allocation can be carried forward to the following year, providing the amount is less than 50% of the allocation for that year. If it exceeds 50% of the in-year allocation only 50% shall be carried forward.

c. It must not commit the Council to expenditure in future years.

d. The member must not have a ‘Disclosable Pecuniary Interest' or a 'Personal and Prejudicial Interest' in the award of the grant, and must declare any "Personal Interest” which is not prejudicial, all as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct. Possession of a personal interest which is not prejudicial will not bar a member from awarding a grant.

e. In election year the money only becomes available from 1 June (i.e. to the newly elected Member) and there will be no carry forward from the preceding year.

Councillor Ranger presented the Members New Homes Bonus Scheme report, which proposed revised criteria for 2017/18. The purpose of the scheme was to allow Members to spend an allocated sum of money on local projects that would benefit the residents of their ward. He said representations had been received since the report had been published and he read out the revised recommended criteria.

In response to a Member question, Councillor Ranger said Members did not necessarily need to spend their allocated money in their ward, although they did need to spend it for the benefit of people living in their ward. In practical terms, this meant that a Member could spend their allocation in a neighbouring ward, on facilities or schemes that were used by their residents.

Councillor Redfern asked whether the Payments Made table (appendix B) could be amended in future, to show money spent per ward rather than per Member. She said she worked as a team with her fellow ward Member when allocating money, although her input had not been recorded. Members agreed with this request.

            RESOLVED to adopt the revised criteria to the scheme as set out below:

a. It has to be spent for the direct community benefit of the member’s ward.

b. Any unspent allocation can be carried forward to the following year, providing the amount is less than 50% of the allocation for that year. If it exceeds 50% of the in-year allocation only 50% shall be carried forward.

c. It must not commit the Council to expenditure in future years.

d. The member must not have a ‘Disclosable Pecuniary Interest' or a 'Personal and Prejudicial Interest' in the award of the grant, and must declare any "Personal Interest” which is not prejudicial, all as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct. Possession of a personal interest which is not prejudicial will not bar a member from awarding a grant.

e. In election year the money only becomes available from 1 June (i.e. to the newly elected Member) and there will be no carry forward from the preceding year.