Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 18 September 2023
Back to Kinross Common Good Fund Committee — 18 September 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Kinross Common Good Fund Committee 18 September 2023 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No. 23/254) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Kinross Common Good Fund Committee to consider two grant applications for financial assistance. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • considers the applications 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 Grants • 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 Kinross Common Good Fund. 4.4 A summary of the projected surplus, committed grant funding, and the
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surplus remaining, is provided below: 2023/24 projected surplus £5,100 Value of grants paid and committed £0 Remaining projected uncommitted surplus £5,100 Value of funding requested and under consideration £1,390 5. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS Light Up Kinross 5.1 A grant of £1000 has been requested by Light Up Kinross. The grant would contribute towards financial support for their 25th Annual Christmas Lights from November to January. 5.2 The grant will be used to erect 62 streetlamp lights, fountain lights and 4 wall lights as well as a decorated Christmas tree in November and dismantle in January. This event will aim to brighten up the town of Kinross during the festive period, making it bright and cheerful for locals and visitors. Light Up Kinross also has support from Kinross-shire Local Events Organisation (KLEO) and local traders. The group estimates that 7,500 people from within the Common Good Area will benefit from the event throughout its duration, along with 950 from elsewhere in Perth & Kinross and 900 from outside of Perth & Kinross. These numbers are rough estimates, depending on the number of visitors to Kinross over the festive period. Success will be measured through feedback from members of the public. 5.3 The total cost of the project is estimated at £4,952, with the group contributing £1,038 towards the costs and has £2,000 pending from the Kinross-shire Fund. If the award from the Common Good Fund is granted, a funding gap of £914 would remain, which is expected to be covered through the support of local traders and the Community Newsletter. A full breakdown of the costs is provided below. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Erection Costs (at 2022 Prices) Paid to contractor £3,792 Maintenance Paid to Lighting repair £774 Insurance Yearly premium £204 Admin Expenses paid for trustees work £182 Total proposed expenditure £4,952 Contribution from Individual £1,038 Funding from the Kinross-shire Fund (pending) £2,000 Funding Requested from Kinross Common Good Fund £1,000 5.4 Light Up Kinross have received a total of £1,774 from the Kinross Common Good Fund in the last three years, detailed below.
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Year Previous Funding Project 2022/2023 £831 Kinross Christmas Lights 2021/2022 £443 Christmas Tree and Lights 2021 2019/2020 £500 Kinross Christmas Lights Consideration 5.5 Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. Kinross-shire Volunteer Group and Rural Outreach Scheme (KVG) 5.6 An application for £390 has been received from KVG to go towards a Thank You Celebratory Event to be held on Sunday 1 October. KVG have been informed that they will be receiving an award from Age Scotland and have been given a budget of £500 to organise a local event for this purpose. KVG would like to enlarge the event and are seeking funding to help cover these additional costs. The event will be held in Orwell Church with catering provided by local provider Avant Garde. 5.7 KVG have been in operation for over 40 years, providing a local volunteer driver service to help people get to appointments and keep in touch with friends. This supports people to live independently and maintain social networks. 5.8 The Thank You Celebratory Event will directly benefit 60-65 people aged over 65 from the Common Good area – including volunteers and some service users, which currently total around 300. Numbers are limited by venue size. 5.9 The total cost of the event is estimated to be £890, with £500 already in place from Age Scotland. A grant of £390 from Kinross Common Good Fund would complete the funding package. If funding is not awarded, the event will still go ahead, but at a smaller scale. A breakdown of costs is provided below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Hall Rental Quote £75 Invitations/envelopes/postage Estimate £55 Catering Estimate £700 Flowers and table decoration Quote £60 Total proposed expenditure £890 Funding from Age Scotland (confirmed) £500 Funding Requested from Kinross Common Good Fund £390 5.10 KVG has not received Common Good funding in the last three years.
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Consideration 5.11 Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Committee is asked to consider the applications and agree any financial assistance to be awarded. Author(s) Name Designation Contact Details Jacob Dudgeon Lee Haxton Community Planning Officer Community Planning Team Leader (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 7 August 2023 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 objectives of developing educated, responsible and informed citizens and the outcome of people are ready for life and work. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 The Head of Finance has been consulted and has indicated agreement with the proposals. The recommendations contained within this report will be funded from the 2022/23 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 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 None.