Decision details

To consider an application received for Community Chest funding from St Mary the Virgin Church, Parish of Great & Little Abington.  This application was due to be considered at the Finance and Staffing Portfolio holder meeting on the 21 November.  Due to the nature and circumstances from which the application arose, the Portfolio Holder agreed to consider the application outside of the Finance & Staffing Portfolio Holder meeting.

The Community Chest is grant funding available to voluntary and community sector groups, charities, parish councils and public sector bodies wishing to further improve quality of life in South Cambridgeshire. Applicants may apply for up to £1,000 for:

·          Improvements to community facilities (i.e. village halls / pavilions / play areas)

·          Repairs to historic buildings / monuments / memorials

·          Tree and hedge planting

·          Equipment / capital purchase

·          Materials

·          Start-up costs (may include training of staff / volunteers, hall hire and other revenue costs).

The guidance notes and eligibility criteria for 2017/18 can be found at https://www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest

The amount of funding made available in the Community Chest in 2017/18 was £55,000. At the Finance & Staffing Portfolio Holder meeting on the 22 August and additional £30,000 was allocated to the fund, following the withdrawal of funding from an expired capital grant, bringing the total for 2017/18 to £85,000. The funding is allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

The total funding requested equals £1,000. The amount of funding remaining for allocation is £17,669.62.

The Portfolio Holder makes all decisions regarding grant funding unless there is a conflict of interest.  On 17 July 2014 the Leader agreed to make decisions on future Community Chest applications at Portfolio Holder meetings.  The responsibility for grants was transferred to the Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder in May 2016.

The  Finance & Staffing Portfolio Holder agreed the following Community Chest funding:

The Portfolio Holder may consider all applications for funding and

(a) award the amount of funding requested

(b) award an alternative amount of funding, including zero funding, or

(c) defer a decision if further information is required from grant applicants