Member Budget Award Scheme 2020/21

Background

The Member Budget Award Scheme for 2020/21 was launched on 27 March 2020 with all
Members allocated £5,000 to support local projects and initiatives aimed at improving the
quality of life and wellbeing of their communities. Funding is provided to recipients as a
discretionary award and is aimed at addressing local priorities for action.

In March 2020 it was confirmed that members can also allocate up to £500 from their 2020/21 allocation to community initiatives responding to the Coronavirus pandemic.

What is happening

In recent years, there has been no provision for an automatic carry forward of unspent
monies to the following financial year and any requests have been considered on a case-by case basis.
However, we recognise that in these unprecedented times, many projects that members
would have liked to support are unable to be progressed at the present time and have been placed on hold for the time being.

As such, for 2020/21 only, any unallocated Member Budgets for the 2020/21 financial year
will be automatically carried forward to 2021/22.

Further guidance will be issued regarding when allocations can be spent in the period
2021/22 as spending on member budgets will impacted by any periods of Purdah.

When it is happening

Any unspent Member Budgets will be automatically carried forward from 1 April 2021.