Agenda item

To consider the report of the Town Clerk.

Consideration was given to the report of the Town Clerk seeking a review of budgets allocated to the committee in light of decisions taken by the Council when setting its precept.

In response to a question it was clarified that whilst the committee held an overall responsibility for climate and biodiversity issues a number of the projects were overseen by other committees who had been allocated budgets accordingly.

Members considered options for reducing budgets and it was noted that £15k had been allocated for the Climate Emergency Fund out of which previous years allocations remained unspent. It was acknowledged that this was mainly due to separate budgets being allocated for schemes.

Clarification was given that the recommendations of each committee would be considered by the Policy, Governance & Finance Committee who would make final recommendations to Council.

After discussion it was proposed and agreed that the £15k currently allocated for the Climate Emergency Fund be removed with a proviso that if there was excess funding available when the budget was finalised then this should be allocated to the Climate Emergency fund.

Recommended:

That the £15k currently allocated for the Climate Emergency Fund be removed with a request being made that if there was excess funding available when the budget was finalised then this should be allocated back to the Climate Emergency fund.