Request for Supplementary Funding – J4B ‘BidTrack’ Grants and funding finder software
Report by:
Tim Kirton, Head of Regeneration
Ward Implications:
All
1
Summary
1.1
Supplementary funding is sought to enable the Council’s access to the J4B “BidTrack” website and software for another year.
2
Recommendation
2.1
To agree supplementary funding for £1,000 for this annual subscription.
3
Report
3.1
The Borough Council’s Regeneration team regularly make use of the subscription-based J4B “BidTrack” website to identify potential grants and other funding sources for projects and this has become an important tool for use in regeneration. Members can view the site at www.bidtrack.co.uk and gain access to funding advice through the community element of the site at www.open4community.info/berwick .
3.2
BidTrack provides an up-to-date database of all funding regimes available for regeneration projects in the Berwick Borough area; it is continuously updated and through the use of “filters” enables tailored funding to be identified and significant amounts of officer search time to be saved.
3.3
Through the Borough Council’s subscription, from 2007-08 the “Bidtrack” programme would be available for access not only by Council Regeneration Service officers but also by all other Council officers, elected members and community groups and development trusts. As such this offers considerable value for money and will be greatly appreciated by our partners and customers involved in local regeneration and enable further Council Officer search time to be saved.
As part of the Borough Council’s budget reductions in response to financial difficulties at the beginning of the year the annual subscription fee for J4B BidTrack was suspended. Supplementary funding is now sought to fund J4B Bidtrack for another year.
4
Implications
4.1
Comments from the Council’s Section 151 Officer
No comments.
4.2
Comments from the Council’s Monitoring Officer
No comments.
4.3
Comments from the Head of Paid Service
No comments.
4.4
Local Agenda 21
No comments.
4.5
Equality
No comments.
4.6
Crime and Disorder
No comments.
5
Report Author
5.1
Tim Kirton, Head of Regeneration Service, tel: 01289 301760. email: tk@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk
6
Service Head
6.1
Tim Kirton, Head of Regeneration Service, tel: 01289 301760. email: tk@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk
