Agenda and minutes

To note any substitution of Board Members made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

Councillor Platt substituted for Councillor Skoczylas.

To note any apologies.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Skoczylas.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 were agreed.

There was no notification of urgent business.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no items to discuss under this item.

Report ofthe ExecutiveDirector (Place)

The Board received the report of the Executive Director of Place. The report set out that the process for the Annual Community Grants 2024 was due to open in the summer. There were some changes required to the application form, and an intention to put this online as an easier process, however this would delay the process and push the start back to the end of August.

The budget expected to be made available for Annual Grants for the financial year 2024/25 is £73,000. This is subject to the Council’s annual budget-setting processes and will be inclusive of the funding ring-fenced for small organisations. It was clarified that the decision was made this year for the following years grants.

Officers clarified that the applications for the small grants comes with guidance to support smaller scale, local organisations.

Advertisement for grant applications would commence on the day the Annual Community Grants scheme is launched. This would ensure all organisations had an equal opportunity to apply.

The Council could support approximately 5 applications. Grant applicants whom were successful would be required into a service level agreement with the Council.

The Grants Board:

·          Approved the amendments to the Annual Community Grant application process to ringfence funding of £2,500 from the Annual Community Grants for the award of small Community grants (maximum £500.00 per organisation) to enable local organisations to access funding for activities, including; assist with administration which will develop constitutions, produce policy documents and facilitate a bank account to enable access to wider funding streams.

·          Noted the proposed opening & closing dates for applications of 4th September 2023 to 8^th October 2023.