Chichester District Council
Agenda item

Agenda item

Recommendations of the Grants Task and Finish Group

To consider the recommendations of the Grants and Concessions Panel, relating to revisions of various grants policies, priorities and funding.

Decision:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

That the revisions to the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the unspent balance of the Low Carbon Chichester District Fund be transferred to the Private Sector Renewal Budget for the Chichester Warm Homes Initiative.

 

(2)  That the revisions to the Grants and Concessions Policy as set out in Appendix 4 of the report be approved.

 

(3)  That the draft “Priorities and Principles for Funding” for the financial year 2016-17 (Appendix 6) be approved.

 

(4)  That, at the appropriate time, consideration be given to including the funding of the grants programme within the base budget once these funds have been exhausted; currently forecasted to be from 2020-21.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report and appendices circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

 

Mrs Lintill introduced the report, explaining that, having regard to the future financial settlement and concerns about the longevity of the grants pot, the Grants and Concessions Panel had established a task and finish group to consider the various discretionary funding sources made available by the Council. The group’s recommendations were set out in full in the report, and aimed to ensure sustainability of both the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Scheme and the discretionary grants scheme. The main points were:-

·         The annual allocation for the New Homes Bonus scheme should be reduced from £400,000 to £250,000. This was generally in line with actual past payments. It would be subject to annual confirmation by the Cabinet, in view of uncertainties about the future of the New Homes Bonus. The maximum allocation per parish would be £100,000, and parishes which had had less than five houses built in the preceding three years would no longer be eligible. Projects already identified in the Infrastructure Business Plan would have a shortened application form.

·         The annual general grants pot would be reduced from £250,000 to £175,000, again reflecting past payments. Typically the maximum grant would be £15,000, reduced from £25,000, although this could be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. More specific criteria would be set for what the Council would and, by exception, would not fund, and these priorities were set out in Appendix 6.

·         Demand for the Low Carbon Chichester District fund had virtually ceased and the unexpended balance would be transferred to the private sector renewal budget.

Mrs Lintill thanked the Task and Finish Group for their work on these challenging issues.

 

Mrs Taylor welcomed the proposed transfer of the Low Carbon Chichester District fund to the private sector renewal budget to help tackle fuel poverty.

 

The Cabinet discussed the possibility of a loans scheme, alongside the grants scheme. Mrs Lintill pointed out that this was referred to in paragraph 6.9 of the report. Outside of the scope of the Task and Finish Group, this had been found to be  more complex than originally considered in view of legislation governing the making of loans. It was an outstanding piece of work that was yet to be undertaken by the Economic Development service.

 

Mrs Lintill added that she had discussed with the Economic Development team the number of large requests from businesses for grants, which the Panel had not been able to support. Grants in this area would be limited to a maximum of £2,500.

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

That the revisions to the New Homes Bonus (Parish Allocations) Policy as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the unspent balance of the Low Carbon Chichester District Fund be transferred to the Private Sector Renewal Budget for the Chichester Warm Homes Initiative.

 

(2)  That the revisions to the Grants and Concessions Policy as set out in Appendix 4 of the report be approved.

 

(3)  That the draft “Priorities and Principles for Funding” for the financial year 2016-17 (Appendix 6) be approved.

 

(4)  That, at the appropriate time, consideration be given to including the funding of the grants programme within the base budget once these funds have been exhausted; currently forecasted to be from 2020-21.

 

Supporting documents:

 

Top of page