Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 25 November 2024
Back to Blairgowrie Common Good Fund Committee — 25 November 2024 and its agenda
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Blairgowrie Common Good Fund Committee 25 November 2024 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Strategic Lead - Housing & Communities (Report No. 24/330) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Blairgowrie Common Good Committee to consider one small grant application for financial assistance. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Consider the application and agree 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 Grant • Section 6: 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. This report is for the Blairgowrie Common Good Fund.
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4.4 A summary of the projected surplus, committed grant funding, and the surplus remaining, is provided below: 5. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS Wisecraft (PKAVS) 5.1 Wisecraft are seeking a grant of £765 towards hall hire costs for their weekly yoga sessions at St Catherine’s church. 5.2 Wisecraft work with people aged 16+ who are struggling with mental health and wellbeing. They facilitate engagement in meaningful and therapeutic activities including horticulture, woodwork, gastronomy, fitness, nutrition, and arts. They aim for people to have better physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, to have better connections with the wider community, and to gain access to new skills and training which will help them move on to positive destinations. 5.3 The grant would be used towards hall hire for the weekly yoga and movement classes which take place at St Catherine’s Blairgowrie. The classes run for 45 weeks per year for up to 12 clients per session. An intergenerational care approach is taken by their qualified yoga and Pilates instructor. Current funding for the project comes to an end in December 2024 and the charity, who already fund the £616.50 employee salary for the 45 hours, does not have the capacity to cover hall hire. Grant funding will mean that attendees will not be asked to make a direct contribution thus, making the class more accessible. It is estimated that 25 people from the Blairgowrie Common Good area will benefit. 5.4 Costs are detailed in the table below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Hall Hire from January 2024 – January 2025 £17 per week for 45 weeks £765.00 Total proposed expenditure £765.00 Funding Requested from Blairgowrie Common Good Fund £765.00 Consideration 5.5 Committee is asked to consider the request in the report and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. 2024/25 projected surplus £800 Value of grants paid and committed £0 Remaining projected uncommitted surplus £800 Value of funding requested and under consideration £765.00
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6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Committee is asked to consider the application and agree any financial assistance to be awarded. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Sarah Kimmet David Stoke Community Empowerment Officer Service Manager Communities 01738 475000 EPLCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Elaine Ritchie Strategic Lead Housing and Communities 24 October 2024 APPENDICES • None
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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. Corporate Plan 1.2 The proposals will contribute to the Corporate Plan’s priorities of tackling poverty and supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 The Strategic Lead, Finance & Business Support has been consulted and has indicated agreement with the proposals. The recommendations contained within this report will be funded from the 2024/25 Financial Assistance budget. Workforce 2.2 Not applicable.
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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 Strategic Lead, Finance and Business Support and the Strategic Lead, Legal and Governance have been consulted.
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External 4.2 Not applicable. 5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 None.