What is Community Leadership Fund?

A: “The purpose of the Community Leadership Fund (CLF) is to enable elected members to seek support for projects that will have a positive impact on communities within their wards. This may relate to projects across the whole city and is not limited to amenities within particular wards, providing councillors are satisfied that communities within their own wards will have the opportunity to benefit.” (Source)

It seems after several disagreements amongst councillors elsewhere in the city, the Tory controlled City Council has decided that the “common sense” should be used by elected members after the Town Hall announced, the the absolute annual amount of £10k for each ward should be divided equally amongst each councillor for the area i.e. if there are three councillors for a ward then each should be entitled to decide upon £3,333 – this is a practice that has occurred in South Werrington and North Gunthorpe since the inception of the Community Leadership Fund in 2006, advocated by all LIB DEMs in this area!

Commenting, Cllr Darren Fower said:

“Its not difficult! If there are two councillors from differing parties then they should get a preferential nod on 50% of the CLF, then if they make a mistake or show poor judgement the electorate can see who make the decision etc Bottom line is that this money comes from the residents, through their taxation and should be spent to benefit for each and every ward!”

Interestingly the annoncement from the Town Hall also made reference to the ex-Tory leader of the Council, stating that the “…current scheme was approved by a Cabinet Member Decision Notice by the then Leader of the Council Cllr John Peach on 18 April 2006 and implemented on 24 April 2006…..” as if to infer that problems incurred since were due to this original policy? #SurelyNot

Read the decision here!