The Corporate Director Communities sought approval to allocate capital funding to Town and Community Councils to develop projects from the Town and Community Council (T&CC) Capital Grant scheme for 2022-23.

She reported that the Council had allocated £50,000 for 2022-23 and for subsequent years in the Capital Programme to support applications from T&CCs for capital projects.  With the decommitment of the Coity Higher project the budget available for 2022-23 is £65,002.57.  She outlined proposals received from T&CCs which sought to align with the Council’s Decarbonisation and Net-Zero 2030 agenda.  It was  proposed that applications for funding from Cornelly Community Council (£9,583) and Coychurch Higher Community Council (£5,000) be approved and that the Decarbonisation Programme Manager liaise with Maesteg Town Council to support a review of options available with the potential to revisit an application in future years.

The Cabinet Member Education stated the importance of plans being submitted by Town and Community Councils to bid for funding from next year’s allocation.   The Corporate Director Communities stated that a report could be submitted to the next Town and Community Councils Forum to offer support and advice to Town and Community Councils in order that they submit bids for funding under the Capital Grant Scheme in 2023-24. 

RESOLVED:          That Cabinet:

1.  Approved allocation of capital funding within the existing Capital Programme of £14,583.00 to Town and Community Councils (T&CC) to develop projects in line with the specific allocations detailed at 8.2 from the Town and Community Council Capital Grant Scheme;

2.  Noted that funding of £50,419.57 will be rolled forward to support projects in 2023-24;

3. Authorised officers to communicate with the T&CC listed in Table 3, section 8.4, and requested an update on proposed delivery and expenditure.  It was proposed that if Town and Community Councils respond indicating that projects are either no longer taking place or cannot be delivered within the 2022-23 financial year then funding offers are withdrawn for the specific applications listed above.  If this does happen then any funding associated will be returned to the T&CC Capital Grant Scheme and be available for future rounds of applications for new proposals;

4. Recommended that a report be submitted to the next Town and Community Councils Forum to offer support and advice to Town and Community Councils in order that they submit bids for funding under the Capital Grant Scheme in 2023-24.