DirApp NAC230913 Irvine Common Good Fund
North Ayrshire Council · 13 September 2023
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 13 September 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 13 September 2023 North Ayrshire Council Title: Revenue Estimates 2023/24 – Irvine Common Good Fund Purpose: To advise Council of the level of grant applications received by Irvine Common Good Fund and seek approval to increase the level of funding made available for disbursement as grants during 2023/24. Recommendation: That Council approves the revised 2023/24 revenue estimates for Irvine Common Good Fund to maximise the support offered to the community. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The Council is the custodian of the Common Good Funds for the former burghs of Ardrossan, Irvine, Largs, Millport, Saltcoats and Stevenston. 1.2 On 1 March 2023, Council approved the 2023/24 revenue estimates for the Common Good Funds, including the amounts available for disbursement in the form of grants from each. The level of funding available for these grants was based on the net annual income of each Fund, after meeting their expenditure commitments, adjusted to reflect the level of grant disbursements in previous years. 1.3 Following an increase in the volume and value of applications for support received by the Irvine Common Good Fund, it is recommended that the 2023/24 revenue estimates are revised to increase the amount available for disbursement to £41,041, enabling the locality partnership to maximise the level of support offered to local communities. 2. Background 2.1 The Council is the custodian of the Common Good Funds for the former burghs of Ardrossan, Irvine, Largs, Millport, Saltcoats and Stevenston. The purpose of the Common Good Funds is to benefit the general population within the defined areas of each of their respective towns.
Page 2
2.2 The Common Good Funds make annual disbursements to groups and individuals based on approved criteria. The levels of grant available for disbursement are determined after all expenditure commitments and projected income from assets has been assessed. Current practice has been for the remaining surplus to be made available for trustees to disburse, ensuring that capital balances are left intact, with the disbursement of funds from the capital balance requiring Council approval. 2.3 On 1 March 2023, Council approved the revenue estimates for each Common Good Fund for 2023/24, including the amounts available for disbursement in the form of grants. 2.4 In the case of Irvine Common Good Fund, due to one-off budgeted expenditure in relation to essential works at Seagate Castle, the budgeted level of expenditure exceeded the level of income. In order to maximise the benefits to the community, Council agreed to set the budget for grant disbursement at a level which reflected previous years’ disbursements. This resulted in a budgeted draw on capital balances of £195,459 for the year. 2.5 The budget for grant disbursement from Irvine Common Good Fund was approved at £26,500 for the year, reflecting the level of activity during 2022/23 which included 3 grant applications totalling £26,500. 2.6 However, following increased activity across community groups since the Covid-19 pandemic and community engagement by colleagues within the Connected Communities service, the number of applications received by the Irvine Locality Partnership up to 31 July 2023 has increased to 5 applications totalling £34,000. 2.7 In order to maximise the benefits to the community and provide sufficient headroom to allow the Locality Partnership to consider any further applications which may be received during the remainder of the financial year, it is proposed that the budget available for disbursement is increased to £41,041 for 2023/24. This amount reflects the balance which would have been available if the additional budget provision in relation to Seagate Castle had not been required. 2.8 The detailed budget for Irvine Common good, including the proposed revisions, is included at Appendix 1. 3. Proposals 3.1 That Council approves the revised 2023/24 revenue estimates for Irvine Common Good Fund to maximise the support offered to the community. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 Approval of the budgets will allow Irvine Locality Partnership to disburse individual grants up to the revised levels.
Page 3
Human Resources 4.2 None. Legal 4.3 All expenditure from Trusts and Common Good Funds must be for the purposes of the Trust or meet the Common Good criteria of benefitting the inhabitants of the Common Good area. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None. Environmental and Sustainability 4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 This report directly supports the Council Plan 2023 to 2028 by providing support for community organisations in achieving their goals. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. 5. Consultation 5.1 Colleagues within the Connected Communities have been consulted on the recommendations within this report. Mark Boyd Head of Service (Finance) For further information please contact David Forbes, Senior Manager (Strategic Business Partner), on 01294 324551. Background Papers Revenue Estimates 2023/24 – Common Good and Trusts - Council 1 March 2023
Page 4
Appendix 1 Budget 202/23 Outturn 2022/23 Approved Budget 2023/24 Revised Budget 2023/24 £ £ £ £ 1,093,581 1,102,411 Common Good Balance Brought Forward at 1 April 1,115,681 1,115,681 INCOME Property Rentals 25,000 25,000 Woodlands Centre 25,000 25,000 11,500 11,500 Bank Street (Church of Latter Day Saints) 11,500 11,500 2,500 18,385 Irvine Moor 13,385 13,385 13,000 13,000 Ground East Road (McConnachies) 13,000 13,000 2,000 2,000 East Road New Car Park 2,000 2,000 Other Income 1,117 17,061 Loans Fund Interest (on cash balances) 27,340 27,340 55,117 86,946 TOTAL INCOME FOR THE YEAR 92,225 92,225 EXPENDITURE Property Costs 500 - General Repairs 500 500 10,033 10,197 Rates on vacant properties (36/38 Bank Street) 10,500 10,500 2,310 887 Electricity 3,110 3,110 30,445 28,995 Grounds Maintenance* 30,445 30,445 220,000 1,673 Property Maintenance 210,000 210,000 1,000 - Other Property Costs 1,000 1,000 264,288 41,752 255,555 255,555 Others 4,673 5,424 Administration - Charge from Finance 5,629 5,629 4,673 5,424 5,629 5,629 268,961 47,176 SUB TOTAL OF EXPENDITURE 261,184 261,184 (213,844) 39,770 SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR BEFORE GRANTS (168,959) (168,959) 26,500 26,500 Available for Disbursement as Grants 26,500 41,041 (240,344) 13,270 FINAL SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR INCLUDING GRANTS (195,459) (210,000) 853,237 1,115,681 COMMON GOOD BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 MARCH 920,222 905,681 COMMON GOOD FUND - IRVINE * For the upkeep of ground at the Moor, Low Green, Recreational Parks, Galt Avenue, Old Parish Church, Redburn Community Centre, Berry Drive