Councillors have spent just £4k of £90k coronavirus pot to be granted to community groups by October

Northampton Borough Council agreed in July to increase the Councillor Community Fund by £2,000 for each of the authority’s 45 councillors – meaning an extra £90,000 will find its way into the hands of community groups in the town.

The funding was intended for councillors to help community and other smaller groups that did not qualify for any government grants and had missed out on summer fundraising activities.

But as of the beginning of September, just nine applications have been supported to the value of £4,250 – and the funds have to be spent by the end of October.

Elected members can allocate the funds to community groups in their local area with a minimum of £250 for each successful group to apply. .

Speaking at the full council meeting on Monday evening (September 14), Councillor Janice Duffy said: “I was a bit dismayed that only nine applications have been received for the COVID funding. I know the council sent out one email, but I just wonder if they could remind people to please use this funding.”

Cabinet member for community, Councillor Anna King, said that since the report was written at the start of the month they had received more applications. But she told councillors: “You do need to spend the money by October. So please, all of you get in contact with your local community organisations to see if you can support them.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Brian Markham said he had spent his £2,000, and asked whether councillors could make bids for more of the cash pot if other councillors had not been able to use their full amount.

Councillor King responded: “If councillors haven’t spent their money by October we will find ways to spend it for them on projects that need to be funded. You’ve done very well to spend yours, and please let me know if you have any others in mind, and if they happen to be for a neighbouring ward we might be able to find another councillor that can assist you.”

The extra £2,000 per councillor has been added to the £3,000 members already receive annually for their empowerment fund, which allows them to ‘efficiently and effectively allocate money within their ward, to make a positive impact on the areas they represent and to empower local residents to be active in their communities’.

Community groups can apply for funding by visiting the borough council’s website at: https://www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200260/community-funding/1951/councillor-community-fund