Issue - meetings

To consider a report proposing the funding split and themes for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) grants process for 2014/15.

(Report attached)

A report had been submitted which set up proposed funding splits for the various parts of the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme for 2014/15.

Officers confirmed that the overall budget for the Grants Programme was the same as in the preceding year and also a number of years prior to that, the amount available not having been altered for some considerable time. In response to the contention that this represented a real terms decrease in funding over time it was noted that the level of grant-funding to the authority from Central Government had been falling far more significantly over the same period.

RECOMMENDED that

the following themes and percentages of funding be allocated for the 2014/15 voluntary and community sector grants process: (see report  for details on themes: these themes link into the Strategic Purposes for Redditch Borough Council – See chart - Appendix 1 to the report)

·         Independent Communities                              =  £130,000 – see 3.3.1

·         Community Development                                =  £  55,000 – see 3.3.2

·         Thriving Communities                                      =  £  20,000 –  see 3.3.3

·         Community Welfare                                           =  £  20,000 – see 3.3.4

·         Stronger Communities Grant Programme   =  £  15,000 –  see 3.3.5

·         £1,000 be allocated from the Grants budget for the use by the Grants Team to deliver:

a)         networking and promotional events;

b)        advertising and communication support;

c)         newsletters.