Proposals on the release of over £1.3 million from the Community Empowerment Fund to help projects in the local community will be debated by the Cabinet at a public meeting on Wednesday 9th May 2012.
The investment helps to deliver the Council’s new vision – that of being a listening Council with active citizens that reaches every community and culture. This is also consistent with the Coalition Government’s Localism Act which provides for give greater public involvement in how local services are provided.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “Creating communities where everyone contributes and takes responsibility is a principle that Bath & North East Somerset Council and our partners in the Local Strategic Partnership want to encourage. We strongly believe that local people are best placed to actively lead the delivery of improvements in their community. This fact is highlighted by the strength of bid applications that we received for funding and the Local Strategic Partnership would like to thank everyone who put ideas forward.
“The proposed projects will support lively, active communities that are shaped by local people, and ultimately create neighbourhoods where people are proud to live.”
Funding award details
The Local Strategic Partnership Board has proposed that funding be set aside for sixteen projects from the £1 million fund created from Government money rewarding the performance of local public services, as below:
Project Name – Revenue/ Capital Allocated
Business Engagement Network B&NES – £97,088
Bath & West Community Energy – £108,000
Transforming services for older people in the Chew Valley – £48,000
Play Together – £64,092
Voices – £65,114
Somer Centre and Somer Valley Skate & Play Park Hub – £109,900
Better Together – £106,806
Healthwatch B&NES Initiation – £49,500
Somer Valley FM’s Big Society – £45,000
Batheaston New Village Hall – £74,999
Bath City Farm, Connecting People to their Community – £35,000
Percy Spaces Project – £34,386
Odd Down Playing Fields Community Hub Club – £11,615
BANES Food For Life Partnership – £50,500
Low Carbon Skills Academy – £84,957
Business West – £15,043
An additional sum will be used by the Council to support disadvantaged communities, regeneration, and localism projects. For example, a new Future Fund will provide positive activities for young people including working with local communities and voluntary and community organisations to address local perceptions of anti-social behaviour by young people. It will also support vulnerable young people, particularly those who are Not in Education, Employment or Training.
There are also plans to beam key Council meetings to the homes of local people through Webcasting in order to increase access to the democratic process.
Full details of how the recommendations for the Cabinet can be found at: http://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=3248&Ver=4
