Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 27 November 2023
Back to Auchterarder Common Good Fund Committee — 27 November 2023 and its agenda
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AUCHTERARDER COMMON GOOD FUND COMMITTEE 27 NOVEMBER 2023 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No. 23/324) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks the Auchterarder Common Good Fund Committee to consider one grant application for financial assistance. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • considers the grant application and agrees any financial assistance to be awarded. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background / Main Issues • Section 5: Proposals: Small Grants • Section 6: Consideration and Conclusion 4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 Perth and Kinross Council owns land and property which forms part of the Common Good of the former burghs in Perth and Kinross and has a statutory duty in terms of section 15 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to administer this land and property "having regard to the interests of the inhabitants" of those former burghs. This duty also applies to the administration of the associated Common Good Funds. 4.2 The Common Good Funds have traditionally demonstrated their support to local residents and organisations by distributing grants. These grant awards allow individuals and local organisations to carry out a wide range of community-based activities. 4.3 Applications to Common Good Funds vary across the different former burghs of Perth and Kinross. The report is for the Auchterarder Common Good Fund. 4.4 The 2023/24 Budget for the Auchterarder Common Good Fund was agreed by members on 22 May 2023 (report 23/149 refers). A summary of the draft Financial Assistance budget, and the value of funding under consideration, is provided below:
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2023/24 Financial Assistance Budget £15,000 Value of grants paid and committed £2,110 Remaining Financial Assistance Budget £12,890 Value of funding requested and under consideration £500 5. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS Auchterarder Adult Education Association 5.1 An application of £500 has been received by Auchterarder Adult Education Association to help with the costs and fees of their new website. The grant will allow the group to maintain a new website, featuring an online booking system to save previous costs on postage and provide a greener way of booking. It will also reduce the need for in-person banking now that the local bank branch has closed. The website launched on 1 August this year and has already proved to be popular. The most recent academic term received 213 bookings across 13 classes on offer using the new system, with most classes fully booked. This grant will cover around 5 months of fees during which the Group aims to build up enough income from class bookings to cover the ongoing monthly fees. 5.2 It is estimated that the project will benefit 200 people from within the Common Good area. 5.3 The total costs of the project are estimated to be £1,188 with the Group contributing £688. A full breakdown is included below. Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount Website costs for one year £99/month x 12 £1,188 Total Proposed Expenditure £1,188 Contribution from Group £688 Funding requested £500 6. CONSIDERATION AND CONCLUSION 6.1 The Committee is asked to consider this request and agree the level of any funding to be awarded. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Jacob Dudgeon Community Planning & Projects Officer (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Lee Haxton Community Planning Team Leader
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Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 6 November 2023
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION, AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External None Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan 1.1 The proposals will contribute to the Community Plan's aim of safe, healthy and inclusive communities and the outcome of communities will have improved quality of life. The recommendations contained within this report are in accordance with the priorities of Perth Common Good Fund's criteria for financial assistance. Corporate Plan 1.2 The proposals will contribute to the Corporate Plan's objectives of developing educated, responsible and informed citizens and the outcome of people are ready for life and work. The recommendations contained within this report are in accordance with the priorities of Perth Common Good Fund's criteria. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 The Head of Finance has been consulted and has indicated agreement with the proposals. Awards of financial assistance will be funded from the 2023/24 Financial Assistance budget.
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Workforce 2.2 Not applicable. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 Not applicable. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.2 This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.3 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.4 However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.5 Not applicable. Legal and Governance 3.6 Not applicable. Risk 3.7 Not applicable. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Head of Finance and the Head of Legal and Governance have been consulted.
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External 4.2 Not applicable. 5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 6. BACKGROUND PAPERS 6.1 Auchterarder Common Good Fund Application papers.