Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Sue Ellington declared a non-pecuniary interest in, and refrained from discussing, the Service Support Grants to the Voluntary and Community Sector because she is a Trustee of Care Network, which might be in receipt of a grant.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2018 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2018.

The Grants Advisory Committee considered a report detailing applications, received between 1 April 2018 and 31 May 2018 and deferred from the meeting held on 21 June 2018, for funding from the Community Chest grant funding scheme.

The Advisory Committee noted that the opening  budget had been £57,000, of which £22,058.26 remained unallocated.

The Committee discussed each application in turn.

The Grants Advisory Committee recommended to the Finance Portfolio Holder as follows:

The Grants Advisory Committee deferred the following application for the reason specified:

The Grants Advisory Committee considered a report detailing applications, received between 1 March 2018 and 31 May 2018 and deferred from the meeting held on 21 June 2018, for funding from the Community Energy grant funding scheme.

The Advisory Committee noted that the total opening budget had been £55,000, of which £41,663.60 remained unallocated.

The Committee discussed each application in turn.

The Grants Advisory Committee recommended to the Finance Portfolio Holder as follows:

The Grants Advisory Committee considereda report that examined the justification and scope for a further three-year programme of Service Support Grant funding to the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Members noted that the current themes and allocations would remain constant. They raised concern about the rigidity of the allocations and how the introduction of Universal Credit would impact on need. This could be addressed by advertising the allocations as approximate to allow flexibility.

Due to the length of the lead in period, and the launch of the scheme on or before 1October 2018, a decision was required.

The Grants Advisory Committee recommended that Cabinet:

a)     approves a further three-year programme of Service Support Grants (subject to annual funding agreements) to run from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022;

b)     approves the continuation of current themes with approximate allocations for the Service Support Grant fund; and

c)     accepts the proposed schedule for operation of the scheme.

The Grants Advisory Committee received and noted a report that highlighted the background to the proposed changes to the Community Chest Scheme and the outcome of the workshop to review the criteria of the scheme held on 12 July 2018.

Areas for further consideration were identified as:

a)     The replacement of the maximum of £3,000 per parish in any financial year with the proposal for  maximum amounts to be based on size of ward. It was felt that this proposal would make the scheme less equitable and other options for allocation of funding were discussed. It was proposed that each parish be allowed to bid for up to £1,000 per financial year, on a first come first service basis, with any further bids considered on merit and in consultation with ward members. An additional column be added to the report detailing what the parishes have already applied for.

It was noted that some parishes have not applied in the past and ward members should try to encourage bids from these parishes;

b)     Criteria was needed for low dwelling precepting parishes. It was noted that some parishes were not budgeting for section 137 expenditure; this would be raised at the next Parish Council Liaison meeting;

c)     The wording on ‘What the project must deliver’ to be amended further to include education and to add the word ‘inclusive’ into ‘Promote healthy and Active Communities; and

d)     The name of the scheme. At the informal Cabinet meeting held on 26 July 2018 concern was raised regarding the proposal to keep the name ‘Community Chest’ as it was felt a new name would highlight it as a new scheme. The Committee felt that changing the name would lead to perception that the funding had ceased and would cause confusion.

The Grants Advisory Committee

1.     recommended that Cabinet approve the changes to the Community Chest guidance notes, as amended, which set out the criteria for the scheme; and

2.     gave the Head of Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing delegated powers to make the necessary amendments to the Community Chest guidance notes in consultation with the Chairman of the Grants Advisory Committee and the Finance Portfolio Holder.

The next Grants Advisory Committee meeting would be arranged for the end of September 2018.