Issue - meetings

(Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-027-2009/10).

(1)        That the publication of the first Annual Report on the Council's external funding activities be noted;

(2)        That the widespread availability of the report via the Council's website be noted; and

(3)        That the future integration of external funding with the Council's budget process and the Authority's corporate priorities, including working with other local partnerships, be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development presented the annual External Funding report for 2008/09, being the first annual report on external funding activities.  The annual report had derived from an internal audit report in 2007, which had called for a clear policy for external funding, clear controls on the preparation and approval of funding applications and the establishment of links with the Council's corporate objectives and budgets. The Portfolio Holder felt that the Council had to continue to maximise its external funding activities as Government funding for local government reduced in the future. It was highlighted that Voluntary Action Epping Forest provided specialist advice for the voluntary sector within the District in relation to external funding opportunities. The report had been published on the Council’s website as part of the annual e-report.

Decision:

(1)        That the publication of the first Annual Report on the Council's external funding activities be noted;

(2)        That the widespread availability of the report via the Council's website be noted; and

(3)        That the future integration of external funding with the Council's budget process and the Authority's corporate priorities, including working with other local partnerships, be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To emphasise the action taken in respect of obtaining external funding and the overall position achieved.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

No other options were considered.