Decision details

The Panel considered the draft Cabinet report.

Mr Hyland referred to the discussion that had taken place at the last meeting concerning the priorities and principles of grant funding, which was reviewed each year and any proposed changes recommended to Cabinet on 1 March 2022 for approval. 

The priorities broadly continued to operate well and no changes were proposed.  An additional principle to the penultimate paragraph is proposed following the declaration of a Climate Emergency in July 2019 as principle 6 “How have you designed the project to minimise its climate impact?”. 

The Vision groups in the District were recipients of grants from a separate funding pot that is administered outside of the Grants and Concessions Panel.  This funding is not regularly accessed by the Groups and for consistency would be more transparent for decision making and access to financial support coming from one channel.  The Future Services Framework has suggested that these Groups should in future apply for funding from the Discretionary Grants Pot.  If agreed this may result in more applications being received by the Panel, from the next financial year. In anticipation of this officers have considered if any changes should be made to the priorities and principles to accommodate these groups.  They have concluded that they are all eligible Groups and that based on previous bids, and future applications would come in under Priority 2 - Improving Places and Spaces.  As a result there is no need for additional changes to the priorities or principles. 

Mr Hyland confirmed that no additional funding would be made available to the Discretionary Grants Pot if the changes were agreed.

A member raised concern that a decision not to provide additional funding would adversely affect the smaller community groups and organisations success as there would be less funding available.

The Chairman reported that whilst £50,000 had been allocated across all the Groups a large amount had not been applied for this financial year.  This was also the case in previous years.

Mr Hyland said that although the funding available would not be increased it could be viewed it was good for the organisations to have some competition, as broadly in previous years there has been enough funding available for all the applications before the Panel.  He agreed with the importance of supporting the smaller groups and organisations however the Council did not advertise that this was the preference. Historically smaller groups have been able to make strong bids, but the Panel should be open to considering other organisations that met the priorities.

Whilst members were in support of the inclusion of additional Principle 6, they wondered if applicants would have difficulties providing evidence that they have taken steps to minimise climate impact.  The Chairman said that the funding advisers had assured him that they will take in to account the circumstances of each application.

Mr Hyland advised there would occasionally be difficult conversations to be had with some applicants about their environmental impacts and how well they were doing to address them.  Officers had met to develop guidance to underpin the verbal advice given and make it available on the Council’s website.  The Panel agreed that officers could finalise the guidance and it confirmed did not need to be brought to the Panel for approval. 

The Panel agreed to delegate to officers the necessary amendments to applications forms and guidance to applicants.

Mr Hyland advised that at the next Panel meeting members would be given the opportunity receive training and to rehearse Principle 6 before taking it into consideration from the start of the next final year.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET

That Cabinet approve the Council’s Priorities and Principles of Grant Funding shown in appendix 1, with effect from 1 April 2022

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS PANEL:

That the Panel delegates to officers the necessary amendments to applications forms and guidance to applicants.