The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Z”) outlines the recommendations of the Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2017-19.

Recommended –

(1)  That the Community Buildings Grants allocations recommended by the Grants Advisory Group, as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of Document “Z” be approved.

(2)  That the decisions on the allocation of the Community Buildings Grants Contingency Fund be delegated to the Grants Advisory Group and that the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to report any such allocation of grants to the Keighley Area Committee on a six monthly basis.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Z”) outlined the recommendations of the Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2017-19.  Included in the report were details of all applications received.

A Member questioned how the allocations were decided and it was explained that groups submitted an “Expression of Interest Form” for consideration by Members the Grants Advisory Group (GAG).  The eligibility for the grants was contained in the Expression of Interest Form guidance notes available for applicants and included that groups should:-

·       Be accessible to everyone within the local community and or young people

·       Have well maintained and clean facilities

·       Have a responsible charging policy, appropriate to the facilities available

·       Have robust financial systems and controls in place

·       Be run by a strong and responsible voluntary management committee

·       Work in partnership with other agencies

·       Provide generic community activities as opposed to Facilities designed for a limited section of the community

·       Must be available for bookings

·       Be on and up to date on the **DIVA database

·       May be a District wide community of interest group

** The DIVA Bradford project brings together information on voluntary and community sector groups from across Bradford District in a single searchable directory.

The feedback provided to unsuccessful applicants and the ability to appeal the GAG decision was questioned.

In response it was explained that groups would be informed in writing indicating what had been approved.  The GAG were recommending the retention of a Contingency Fund in order for the Area Committee to be able to consider supporting new or existing groups that were likely to need help in the coming months and years, particularly in relation to taking on responsibility of CBMDC buildings. The Contingency Fund also allowed further consideration to be given to groups which had not been awarded the full amount they applied for, who then found that they suffered adversely as a result of further cuts to their budgets or unforeseen costs. A particular concern was the position of groups currently waiting for determinant of budget from other sources, for example, Public Health grants.

For those groups that were successful or unsuccessful in the application process it was intended to set up a workshop in each constituency that would offer advice and support with fundraising to mitigate the loss of funding.

In response to questions it was confirmed that commercial activities were not supported and all groups must adhere to the eligibility criteria.

It was requested that future Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group reports for approval of the allocation of Community Buildings Grants include details of the amounts the applicants had initially requested.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Community Buildings Grants allocations recommended by the Grants Advisory Group, as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of Document “Z” be approved.

(2)  That the decisions on the allocation of the Community Buildings Grants Contingency Fund be delegated to the Grants Advisory Group and that the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to report any such allocation of grants to the Keighley Area Committee on a six monthly basis.

(3)  That, to facilitate the decision making process, the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to include the amounts requested from applicants in future reports for Member approval.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEEE: Corporate

ACTION: Keighley Area Co-ordinator