Agenda and draft minutes

The Panel is asked to elect a Chair for the duration of the municipal year.

Members were asked to elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED that Councillor Fielding be nominated Chair of the Sub-Committee for the municipal year.

There were no apologies for absence received.

There were no items of urgent business received.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no public questions received.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (LIF) held on 20^th March 2020 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (LIF) held on 20^th March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

The Sub-Committee gave consideration to a report of the Corporate Policy Lead which asked Members to review the project updates and agree additional resource requirements, if applicable           

Members were informed that, at the meeting of the Council on the 22nd May 2019, it was agreed that a Local Improvement Fund (LIF) should be established to support district priorities. The LIF is a £500k capital fund that all elected members and District Teams can access through a bidding process.

The LIF launched in July 2019 and required elected members to submit expressions of interest for funding, with two funding rounds held in November 2019 and February 2020. In total the LIF funded 20 projects, totalling £499,260. The report provided an update on all 20 projects, including additional funding requirements.

Members gave consideration to three projects which had requested additional funding:

1.    Application 6 – Hollinwood War Memorial – £2,273 over budget.

2.    Application 10 – Turn Lane Footway – £5,000 over budget (Members noted that £2,500 had been found by the service to support the delivery of the project and the requirement from the LIF was an additional £2,500).

3.    Application 13 – Lees Village Centre – £5,000 over budget.

Members were informed that, if approved, the shortfall of £6,108.87 could be managed within the overall capital programme approvals.

Members noted that one project had been delivered under budget, Application 14 – Martha Street and Ripon Street Play Area – £3,644.13 underspend.

The Council had allocated an additional £500k for the Local Improvement Fund. However, further funding rounds had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Options/Alternative considered:

·         Option 1 - Do Nothing – this was not the preferred option as, without additional funding, the three projects detailed above could not progress.

·         Option 2 - Allocate additional funding – the Sub-Committee was recommended to review current projects and agree which projects should receive additional LIF Funding.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The progress on current projects as set out in the report be noted.

2.    Additional funding be agreed for the three projects which had requested it.

3.    An update be provided to a future meeting with regards to works to Sholver Community Centre (replacement of boiler, windows and kitchen).

4.    An update be provided to a future meeting with regards to Failsworth War Memorial Renewal.

5.    An update be provided to a future meeting with regards to using the underspend on the Martha Street and Ripon Street Play Area to repair the pavement adjacent to the play area.