Member Budgets Award Scheme

The Member Budgets Award Scheme (Borough Councillors) was introduced to enhance the ability of Councillors, as democratically elected representatives, to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of their local communities. Funding is provided to recipients as a discretionary award and is primarily aimed at addressing priorities for action identified within community-led plans. The budget for 2015-16 is £10,000 per Member. Awards of between £250 and £10,000 are available for projects.

The Members Budgets scheme is designed to support small to medium community driven projects where projects or supported activity make a positive change in the local area and/or benefit the wider community.

The guidance attached is intended to provide a detailed run through of the new process for applying for funding from a members budget. Please read the guidance in full before completing your application. The summary below should give you a quick idea of what is involved.

The scheme has been re- designed to be as simple as possible and involves four steps:

• Step 1 – A proposal being discussed with a local Councillor to see if it appears suitable.
• Step 2 – A community group completing an application form
• Step 3 – A Councillor(s) approving or denying the application
• Step 4 – A Localities Team within the Council processing a payment to the community group

The groups who have received an award will complete a monitoring form after six months to check that they have used the money and the benefits that have been achieved.

We hope that this will be a simpler process for all involved and allow greater access to what is an excellent scheme achieving high quality outcomes for the residents of Cheshire West and Chester.

• Member Budgets Award Scheme application
• Member Budgets Award Scheme guidance 2015-16