[James McLaughlin]

I'd love to think that was true, as would my Director of Resources who would doubtless use the cash to shore up any deficits in the revenue account!

In all seriousness though, I've just done a very quick google search (as you probably have too) and have found nothing. And I thought I would check my doing a search on the Communities and Local Government website for 'Funding to Support Local Democracy', which amusingly returned the following result:

Search results:
Sorry, your search did not return any results. Please try altering or widening your search.

Looks like there is nothing, let alone £85,000!

[Jessica Crowe]

I'm not sure if Gordon Brown has said anything on the subject, but a figure very close to £85k appears in the Impact Assessment for implementing the proposed new duty to promote democracy being brought in as part of the new Bill. It identifies the monetised costs of the preferred option in the White Paper on this subject as being:

"£86,000 for each county and unitary authority authority providing the equivalent of two employees working in this area and a publicity budget; and, £45,000 for each district authority providing 0.5 employees with administrative support and a publicity budget. Total cost £22.3m".

See the CLG website: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicatio...edemocracy for more details.

The usual practice is for such sums to be included in future RSG formulae but not ringfenced so it will be up to authorities whether they actually apply the money in this way.

Jessica

[Neil Evans]

Will this £85k only be provided to English Authorities does anyone know?

[Jessica Crowe]

nevans Wrote:Will this £85k only be provided to English Authorities does anyone know?

If it refers to the initiative I've identified around the duty to promote democracy, yes coverage is only for English local authorities.

Jessica