Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Finance.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council adopt the policy to ensure that, should the Council wish to award grants to organisations over and above those within the Community Grants Programme, it had a clear and transparent decision-making process through which to identify opportunities, allocate funds and award grants.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on a proposed policy, which would enable the Council, to award grants to organisations to fund activities and would contribute to the achievement of the priorities set out in the Corporate Plan.

The Council currently had a process for awarding Grants through the Community Grants Programme and the policy would provide the Council with an open and transparent policy to award general grants which were outside of the Community Grants Programme.

Particular reference was made to the process which would happen in two ways:-

·         where the allocation of a grant has approved funding from Council, the Executive would have the power to award grants; and

·         where the allocation of a grant has not been approved by Council, the Executive would have the power to award the grant subject to approval by full Council.

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item. She enquired on the relation of the policy to the Community Grants Programme and whether there were details available applying for a grant?

The Leader, in responding, highlighted that the report provided an overview of the policy, rather than the process for allocating grant money. The policy would allow the Council to support major projects or organisations against the Corporate Strategy. A response on the application process would be made available to Members.

Members welcomed the policy and noted that the policy would not be administered by the Community Grants Programme.

RECOMMENDED that Council adopt the policy to ensure that, should the Council wish to award grants to organisations over and above those within the Community Grants Programme, it had a clear and transparent decision-making process through which to identify opportunities, allocate funds and award grants.