Issue - meetings

This report will follow.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & the Environment:

1.    Noted the proposed approach;

2.    Approved the criteria for internal and external grant applications; and

3.    Agreed to bring back further detail on the process for funding rounds at the September Decision Meeting.

Bethan Mose, Development Manager introduced the report and in response to questions explained that:

This is a relatively new portfolio with a new budget that was allocated just after the elections which is why the criteria are being developed now.   Previously, any greening funding was granted at the discretion of the relevant Cabinet Members. 

No decision has been made yet as to the breakdown of funding between council-led projects and external projects.

Assessing how much a proposed project may increase tree canopy is an example of the type of feature that might feature under part A and would be the type of thing that would probably be for officers to assess.  Were a funding round to be launched in Autumn, it might be stipulated that the council wants to support projects that deliver X amount of canopy increase or that fall in the lowest super output areas. 

The officers have experience of obtaining funding and are not trying to make it too difficult for community groups; they are trying to ensure they get it right and follow correct process that withstands financial and legal scrutiny.

Councillor Kimberley Barrett noted that in her former role as Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Green Recovery, there were two pots of money which came under the regeneration and the environment portfolios.  When the Climate Change & Environment Cabinet Member role was created in mid-May, it was realised that the criteria for funding would need to be looked at.  The application that was recently submitted had highlighted the need for a process for granting funding applications.

The broader funding framework will be brought back to a later meeting to ensure that as much of the city as possible can be greened in alignment with the objectives set out in the Greening Portsmouth Strategy (2020)..

There are many wonderful community groups and projects and we want the criteria in place so that everyone has a fair chance to access funding.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & the Environment:

1.    Noted the proposed approach;

2.    Approved the criteria for internal and external grant applications; and

3.    Agreed to bring back further detail on the process for funding rounds at the September Decision Meeting.