Issue - meetings

Applications for Financial Assistance 2019/20

Meeting: 13/12/2018 - Executive (Item 6)

6 Applications for Financial Assistance 2019/20 EXE18-054 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

The Reporting Persons for the Applications for Financial Assistance 2019/20 are Douglas Spinks, Deputy Chief Executive, Frank Jeffrey, Democratic Services Manager, and Sylvie Marshall, Community Development and Engagement Manager.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor D Bittleston, introduced the report which set out the grant applications received as part of the Community Support Scheme 2019/20, noting that the recommended funding totalled £867,249 of the available revenue budget, with a further £10,000 to be ringfenced.  In addition, the recommendations for capital or one-off applications equated to £200,810 from the Community Fund.

The Leader noted that the high level of support from Woking Borough Council showed its ongoing commitment to supporting the voluntary sector, which included grant funding, accommodation, concessionary rent, discretionary rate relief, parking spaces and the provision of advice.  The total value of the Council’s support for the voluntary sector for the coming year was estimated to be £1,848,879, which was significantly higher than any other local authority in Surrey.

The Executive was advised that the Portfolio Holder for Grants to Voluntary Organisations, Councillor Azad, had been unable to attend the meeting.  However, she had undertaken the preparatory assessment work between September and December and requested that the Executive supported the recommendations set out in the reports.

The importance of Groups undertaking joint working with the Council was noted along with the ongoing constraints on Council budgets which required the community groups to prepare for possible funding reductions each year.

The Leader thanked Officers for their work in the preparation of the reports before the Executive.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the report be noted;

          (ii)   the positions regarding the applications for Horsell Prepared and Freedom Leisure be noted;

          (iii)  any unused funds remaining in the budget from the 2019/20 financial year be transferred to the Community Fund; and

          (iv)  the allocation of funding of £10,000 to the Woking Asian Business Forum to manage the Alpha Road Community Hall (ARCH) be noted.

Reason:   To determine financial support for voluntary and community organisations through the Council’s Community Grants Scheme for the 2019/20 financial year.