Agenda item

To consider recommendations from the Grants Panel for awards of grants to various community groups in the Borough.

Members considered the Notes and recommendations of the Grants Panel Meetings held on 19th and 20th December 2016 for the award of major grants to voluntary sector organisations for 2017/18. 

The Panel considered a total of 43 applications and one Concessionary Rent application that had been received from a variety of Voluntary Sector organisations in line with the Council’s five themed Strategic Purposes.  Each application had been scored in accordance with the Council’s Grants Programme requirements, with recommendations then made to either approve or reject each of the applications. 

The Panel also considered the unallocated sums of money, which it was suggested be retained and re-advertised alongside the Stronger Communities Grant applications in January 2017, and that Officers liaise with those applicants who had submitted bids but who had been unsuccessful to look to submit a further application, where relevant.  It was further recommended that any unallocated sums of money under £1,000 relating to the themes be included in the Stronger Communities Grants funding theme for 2017/18.  The Panel had also requested that Officers provide feedback to those applicants who had been unsuccessful in securing a grant due to not enough information and/or relevant details having been included in their application.    

In relation to the proposed grant for Redditch Mental Health Action Group, it was noted that the information on Reserves held would be requested should the Executive approve the grant in principle.  It was also noted that organisations could make a maximum of one grant application under each of the five themed Strategic Purposes.

RESOLVED that

1)          the following grants for 2017/18 be awarded:

2)          the unallocated sums of £6,000, £16,000, £1,000, £1,000 and £5,000 relating to the Themes detailed in the table at 3. of the Grants Panel Meetings Notes, be retained and their availability be re-advertised in parallel with the Stronger Communities Grants applications in January 2017;

3)          any unallocated sums of money under £1,000 relating to the Themes detailed in the table at 3. of the Grants Panel Meetings Notes, be included in the Stronger Communities Grants funding theme for 2017/2018; and

4)          theConcessionary Rent application from the Oasis Christian Centre in respect of their charity shop in Winyates be awarded 70% discount of the market rental value with a three year tenancy agreement.