Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Projects and Business Manager.

(Report circulated)

(Minute 27)

The report of the Projects and Business Manager was submitted, beginning the review of eligibility and evaluation criteria for the New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund.

Executive noted and supported the revised criteria recommended by the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel in the following terms:

• Upper limit should remain as 20% of the fund for the year (and therefore currently £50,000 per application); in practice there is only £32,240 left for 2013/12
• Applications should be limited to one financial year at a time.
• Repeat bids for the same project should continue to be allowed, but continuing support for existing projects needs to be balanced with support for worthwhile new projects.
• Revenue bids should continue to be allowed, but only in exceptional circumstances and time limited (normally for one year only).
• Areas of the city with significant past or future growth will be favoured.
• Projects will be expected to secure significant funding from other sources.
• Joint projects will be favoured, for example whereby two or more organisations pool their resources to provide or improve a joint facility.
• County Council functions (e.g. highway works) will not be eligible. City Council functions (especially community facilities) will continue be eligible, although not normally for something that should be provided as part of ordinary service delivery.
• Projects for which a more suitable funding stream exists (eg. arts or rent grants) will not normally be eligible, regardless of whether money is actually available from that source.

The report of the Projects and Business Manager was submitted, beginning the review of eligibility and evaluation criteria for the New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund.

RESOLVED that Executive note and support the revised criteria recommended by the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel in the following terms:

• Upper limit should remain as 20% of the fund for the year (and therefore currently £50,000 per application); in practice there is only £32,240 left for 2013/12
• Applications should be limited to one financial year at a time.
• Repeat bids for the same project should continue to be allowed, but continuing support for existing projects needs to be balanced with support for worthwhile new projects.
• Revenue bids should continue to be allowed, but only in exceptional circumstances and time limited (normally for one year only).
• Areas of the city with significant past or future growth will be favoured.
• Projects will be expected to secure significant funding from other sources.
• Joint projects will be favoured, for example whereby two or more organisations pool their resources to provide or improve a joint facility.
• County Council functions (e.g. highway works) will not be eligible. City Council functions (especially community facilities) will continue be eligible, although not normally for something that should be provided as part of ordinary service delivery.
• Projects for which a more suitable funding stream exists (eg. arts or rent grants) will not normally be eligible, regardless of whether money is actually available from that source.

(Report circulated)

To receive and adopt the minutes of the meetings held on 21 and 28 February and 8 March 2013.

(Minutes to follow)

(Minute26)

The minutes of the meetings of the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel held on 21 and 28 February and 8 March 2013 were submitted.

The comments of the Scrutiny Committee – Community on 5 March 2013 on Community Grants 2012/13 and its support for the Panel’s recommendation on the item were noted.

Executive welcomed the significant investment in community initiatives enabled by the use of the New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund and acknowledged the huge voluntary effort which made these projects viable. 

Executive received and, where appropriate, adopted the minutes of the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel held on 21 and 28 February and 8 March 2013.

The minutes of the meetings of the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel held on 21 and 28 February and 8 March 2013 were submitted.

The comments of the Scrutiny Committee – Community on 5 March 2013 on Community Grants 2012/13 and members’ support for the Panel’s recommendation on the item were noted.

Executive members welcomed the significant investment in community initiatives enabled by the use of the New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund and acknowledged the huge voluntary effort which made these projects viable. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel held on 21 and 28 February and 8 March 2013 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

(Minutes circulated)