Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Customer and Communities.  (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 28 March 2019, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Customer and Communities proposing the approach and methodology to be followed in undertaking the review, including public consultation, of the future governance arrangements for Area Partnerships, including the allocation and disbursement of the Community Fund.  The report explained that over the last few years there had been a number of important developments, nationally and locally, which had a critical bearing on issues of governance and community inclusion and empowerment.  While those developments impacted on the Council’s work at the moment, there was a lack of certainty over the final implications both in terms of future legislation and wider governance arrangements which might come to fruition.  However, it was not possible to wait for final outcomes but to progress those areas within the Council’s remit - the Review of Area Partnerships and the Community Fund - while ensuring that any conclusions embodied sufficient flexibility to allow arrangements to respond to this developing context.  It was proposed to carry out a consultation exploring how individuals, groups and communities could be more involved in Area Partnerships and decision making.  It was further proposed that the Area Partnership Review encompassed the interim changes to grant funding and the future of the Community Fund.  The consultation would seek to gather views regarding local decision making, including what the arrangements could look like in each locality (governance arrangements may vary in each area in order to best suit local circumstances), and the new Community Fund.  In order to ensure a full and robust response the consultation would be public, open to all members of Scottish Borders communities, and would include targeted engagement.  To ensure that the review was completely impartial, clear and transparent, an external agency would be commissioned to undertake the consultation work on behalf of Scottish Borders Council.  It was envisaged that the consultation would take place during the summer/autumn with the results and any recommendations being incorporated into forthcoming budget discussions and reported back to Council before the end of 2019.  It was further proposed that a “fast track” application process would be brought in for the Community Fund for amounts of less than £1500, with a simplified application form.  This would be assessed by officers in the usual way and an officer recommendation made.  Further, delegated authority was sought for the Service Director Customer & Communities to decide such applications – in consultation with local Members – where the application could not wait for the next Area Partnership meeting.  Applications for amounts over £1500 would require to use the normal application route and decisions could only be made on these at Area Partnership meetings.  Members discussed the proposals.  Councillor H. Anderson expressed some concerns and proposed that the decision on this matter be deferred until the next meeting in August to allow further clarification and suggested that the review of Area Partnerships should be undertaken first to ascertain if they were the best vehicle to administer these funds.

VOTE

Councillor Aitchison, seconded by Councillor Rowley, moved that the recommendations in the report be approved.

Councillor H. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved that the decision be deferred until the August Council meeting to allow further clarification.

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion             -           20 votes

Amendment     -           8 votes.

The Motion was accordingly carried.

DECISION

DECIDED:-

(a)     the scope, approach and timeline to the Area Partnership Review consultation, including the future allocation and governance of the Community Fund, as detailed in the report;

(b)     that an external company be appointed to undertake the consultation work on behalf of the Council;

(c)     that the consultation results, and arising recommendations, were presented at the December 2019 meeting of Scottish Borders Council;

(d)     that the following “fast track” application process was brought in for the Community Fund for 2019/20:

(i)      for amounts up to £1500;

(ii)     the application form being completed by a community group or by an Elected Member on behalf of a community group and an officer assessment/recommendation made; 

(iii)    delegated authority be given to the Service Director Customer & Communities to decide on “fast track” applications – in consultation with local Members – where the application cannot wait for the next suitable Area Partnership meeting; and

(e)     applications for amounts greater than £1500 to the Community Fund would require to use the normal application route and decisions could only be made on those at Area Partnership meetings.