Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement to provide an update on the Council’s Community Grants Scheme and seek approval for the award of Community Grants for the financial year 2023/24.

Cabinet:

1.    APPROVED the award of Community Grants in line with the Community Grants Policy as set out in the report and detailed in Appendix A.

2.    APPROVED utilisation of allocated UKSPF funding to support additional community grant allocations as detailed in Appendix A.

3.    DELEGATED to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement, authority to assess and award community grants for the one-off King’s Coronation Grants Scheme with the remaining Community Grants budget (£8,796)

Director for Housing and Communities introduced the report the purpose of which was to seek approval from Members for the award of Community Grants (including those funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund) for the financial year 2023/24.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement said that she had enjoyed awarding the community grants, this year we have received extra funding from the UKSPF which has enabled us to reach out further than previous years. Because of this extra funding from UKSPF the Council now have more robust and formal procedures in place, and this allows us to be more transparent when the grants are allocated.  She was delighted to announce the one-off Coronation Grant scheme to help communities to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

Cabinet:

1.    APPROVED the award of Community Grants in line with the Community Grants Policy as set out in the report and detailed in Appendix A.

2.    APPROVED utilisation of allocated UKSPF funding to support additional community grant allocations as detailed in Appendix A.

3.    DELEGATED to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate, Access and Engagement, authority to assess and award community grants for the one-off King’s Coronation Grants Scheme with the remaining Community Grants budget (£8,796)

Reason for Recommendations:

The Council invests in a Community Grants Scheme which supports communities with delivering activities that benefit the residents of the Borough and bring positive social value. The grant supports the corporate theme of “Helping People” and the Council’s role both as supporter and enabler of community-based activities.

Utilising allocated UK Shared Prosperity Fund monies alongside the Council’s Community Grants budget has enabled the panel to assist as many requests as possible, achieve maximum value for money and create a one-off Coronation Grants Scheme to enable communities across Melton to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

In 2022, the Council successfully extended the reach of the community grants budget to enable celebration of the Platinum Jubilee in communities across the Borough through a one-off grants scheme. As a community leader, it is positive that the Council can replicate this to deliver and award funds to eligible applicants through a one-off grant fund to mark the King’s Coronation.

Timely award of grants for the King’s Coronation is important, to enable community groups sufficient time to plan and prepare for their events in time for the Coronation in May 2023. Delegated authority to awards the Coronation grants will enable this.

The recommended allocations follow a robust assessment process by a panel consisting of the Portfolio Holder and lead officers. The Panel assessed the grants in line with the criteria set out within the approved Community Grants Policy.