Issue details

Further to the establishment of a ward Members Budget of upto £3k per Councillor (ODR No: CR/352/04/20,) a number of applications have been received and assessed in line with the application criteria and supported by the relevant ward Councillor (s).

The Doncaster Community Fund Elected Members Ward Budget is included as part of the £280k Locality Budgets contained within the 2020/21 Revenue Budget. Within this allocation each elected Member is allocated up to £3k (£165k in total across all 55 elected Members) to support local groups and organisations to undertake activities and initiatives to support communities and individuals affected by the COVID 19 pandemic.

A central record of grants allocated will be maintained by the Corporate Governance Team within Legal and Democratic Services – this will reconcile to the grant payments made and record the outcomes achieved through the use of the grant funding.

The individual applications below, detail the extent to which the initiative will seek to make a positive impact in the community and ensure the most vulnerable people within Doncaster Communities are supported in a safe and responsible way during the Covid 19 pandemic.

a. DN7 Community Foodbank
Reference No: 34/DCF/WBCV19/Stain
Supported by: Councillor Ken Keegan
Cost £3000 x 1 Councillor
The funding will allow the foodbank to purchase extra storage for food, which is being bought in bulk due to high demands for assistance and also to buy additional stock. This project will cover the DN7 postcode area for vulnerable families and individuals seeking support.

b. Given Freely Freely Given
Reference No: 35/DCF/WBCV19/HexBN&BS
Supported by: Councillor Jones (Hexthorpe and Balby North), Councillor Fennelly (Balby South), Councillor Wilkinson (Hexthorpe and Balby North) and Councillor Healy (Balby South)
Total Cost £1500 (£500 x 3 includes Councillor Fennelly, Councillor Wilkinson, Councillor Healy)

This is a second application by the ward Members to support this initiative, £1674 has already been allocated (see ODR no. CR/352/04/20 approved on 20th April 2020). This application is to support further increase in demand and the grant funding will help sustain a much needed food and toiletries bank to those most vulnerable in the community with whom many already attend the project. It will allow the group to buy non-perishable food, to support the food that is donated.