Agenda item

Corporate Grant Schemes - Community and Economic Development Grants.

Minutes:

Peter Stuart, Head of Corporate Resources, introduced the report which presented four Community Grant applications for consideration the Panel, one of which was recommended for an award. He noted that all applications had merit however three applications did not meet the criteria that the grants are assessed by.

The applications which were recommended for consideration by the Panel are set out below:

 

Table 1: Applications recommended for award

 

Organisation

Purpose for which grant is sought

Award Requested

Award Suggested

Scrapless CIC

Purchase fridges in order to store left over fruit and vegetables which will be offered to Burgess Hill Pantry for residents at subsidised cost. Deliver cooking demonstrations.

£1,600

£1,600

 

TOTAL

£1,600

£1,600

 

Table 2: Applications Considered but NO GRANT Award Recommended

 

Organisation

Purpose for which grant is sought

Award requested

Befriended

Afternoon Tea with entertainment on first Sunday of every month

£5,000

Relate North & South West Sussex

Counselling sessions in East Grinstead and surrounding areas

£2,000

*Citizens Advice West Sussex

Pilot project supporting victims of domestic abuse providing legal, financial, and practical advice for victims who are assessed as ‘medium’ risk.

£4,909

 

The Vice-Chairman commented that fridges are very expensive and noted that there are businesses in the leisure sector that are going bankrupt therefore he hoped that effort had been made to source second-hand fridges. He also made a personal plea regarding Relate North & South West Sussex as organisations and services such as this are massively underfunded and massively needed however he appreciated the demands on the public sector.

 

The Chairman agreed and believed that the Council should do as much as possible for families so that they can relate better and stay together. He felt pleased that the Council is working with Citizens Advice West Sussex on their domestic abuse pilot and is referred to the Mid Sussex Partnership in relation to this pilot. He also added that the comments on the Scrapless CIC would be noted.

 

The Member recalled a recent conversation he had overheard about a lady being lonely and believed that there may be more who are hidden and feel the same way. He felt disappointed for Relate North & South West Sussex because their application had already commenced and hoped that future sessions would be funded.

 

The Chairman highlighted other organisations carry out similar activities which officers’ support. He stated that if the application were to be waived through then it may set a precedent however he encouraged the organisation to apply in future. He also expressed that he was pleased that officers were working with unrepresented groups to enable them to put in grants applications to assist their communities. The Chairman took the Panel to vote on the recommendations which was agreed unanimously.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Cabinet Grants Panel agreed:

 

i.   That a Community and Economic Development Grant of £1,500 be released to Scrapless CIC to fund the purchase of fridges in order to store left over fruit and vegetables which will be offered to Burgess Hill Pantry for residents at subsidised cost.

 

ii.  That a Community and Economic Development Grant is not released to Befriended as their application did not meet the criteria of grant scheme.

 

iii. That a Community and Economic Development Grant is not released to Relate North & South West Sussex as their application did not meet the criteria of grant scheme.

    

iv. That a Community and Economic Development Grant is not released to Citizens Advice West Sussex as their application did not meet the criteria of grant scheme.

Supporting documents: