Issue - meetings

9.30pm

The Committee received a report from the Operations and Resources Manager regarding Area Committee Grants. The Committee noted that applications WC3 and WC4 had also received grants from the North Area Committee.

The Committee discussed the application from St Augustine’s Church (WC5) and raised the following points:

       i.          The Programme provided twenty events and not five as stated in the report.

     ii.          The project was staffed by volunteers and achieved good attendance numbers.

   iii.          The scheme had been fully funded for the last two years and halving their grant would be detrimental. A phased reduction would allow them to plan ahead.

   iv.          A small contribution from attendees could make up the short fall.

    v.          This project provided high quality events but could not supply any evidence that it assisted those in need.

   vi.          Asking the north Area Committee for a contribution was discussed but dismissed as the North Area budget was oversubscribed already.

Members agreed unanimously that a transitional arrangement of awarding £1750 this year. The Operations and Resources Manager would support the applicant and encourage them to fund-raise a proportion of the cost. Outreach to the wider community would also be encouraged. Next year’s application would be expected to be for a smaller proportion of the costs.

Members were concerned that the applications appeared to come from the same groups year after year.

Susan Stubbs

Ms Stubbs welcomed the news that the management of the grants had transferred to the City's grants team as the one managed previously by the Foundation was long and complicated. Before an application could be considered a group needed to have procedures in place regarding equalities and other policies. Many small groups intimidated by this and do not apply.

Resolved (unanimously) to award the following grants: