Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 21 December 2022
Back to Perth Common Good Fund Committee — 21 December 2022 and its agenda
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PERTH COMMON GOOD FUND COMMITTEE 21 December 2022 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No. 22/305) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Perth Common Good Fund Committee to consider eight small grant applications. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • Consider the grant 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: Changes to Approved Funding • Section 6: Proposals: Small Grants • Section 7: Conclusion • Appendices 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 Perth Common Good Fund is larger and receives a much higher number of applications than the other Funds. Therefore, additional criteria are applied to assist with assessing applications (see Appendix 1).
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4.4 The 2022/23 Budget for the Perth Common Good Fund was approved at the Committee meeting on 21 February 2022 (Report 22/40 refers). A summary of the approved Financial Assistance budget, committed grant funding, and the budget remaining, is provided below: 2022/23 Financial Assistance Budget St John’s Kirk Carillon Fireworks Small Grants Capital Grants £2,000 £16,500 £60,000 £40,000 Value of grants paid and committed Fireworks Small Grants Capital Grants £22,094 £17,654 £37,000 Remaining Financial Assistance Budget Small Grants Capital Grants £36,752 £3,000 Value of funding requested and under consideration St John’s Kirk Carillon Small Grants Capital Grants £2,000 £16,106.60 Nil 5. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS Perth Amateur Operatic Society 5.1 A grant of £3,420 has been requested from the Perth Amateur Operatic Society for their production of “Legally Blonde the Musical”. For each production, the group hire a local creative team (director, musical director, and choreographer) to lead rehearsals, thus creating job opportunities in the local arts industry. The Common Good grant will support around 40 PAOS members who will work on the production. The Society aims to be an inclusive, welcoming group whose members benefit from making social connections and learning new skills. The grant will fund venue hire, production costs, rehearsal and script/music score costs. 5.2 The total cost of the project is estimated at £51,962, of which £4,150 has been secured though other funds. Any remaining funding gap will be covered by the group’s reserves, fundraising activities and the ticket income raised. It is estimated that around 3,942 people will come to view the production while it is running. A breakdown of costs is provided below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Rehearsal material (music and scripts) Hire Cost (basic 3-month cost - £460 Additional 4 months at £110 per month - £440) £900 Rehearsal Space Hire Cost £2,520
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Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Riverside Church – per night £45 (28 weeks of rehearsal on Monday and Wednesday nights) Accompanist £1,700 Advertising £1,000 Choreographer £1,000 Costumes and Prep £4,000 Director £2,000 Insurance £1,483 License £500.00 Musical Director £2,500 Orchestra £2,700 Photography / FOH £500 Programme Production £900 Royalties and Music Hire £4,800 Set Hire £4000 Sound and light £7,100 Stage Management £500 Venue Hire Horsecross £7,246 Admin sundries £50.00 Gift and flowers £50.00 Horsecross Commission £654.00 Postage £20.00 Storage £2,255 VAT £4,271 Miscellaneous £863 Total proposed expenditure £51,962 Contribution from Group £2,750 Arnold Clark Community Fund (Approved) £1,000 Asda Green Token Giving Community Fund (Approved) £400 Estimated ticket sales income from shows £25,628 Funding requested £3,420 Consideration 5.3 It is considered that a grant of £3,420 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(b). Perthshire Musical Festival 5.4 A grant of £5,424 has been requested from the Perthshire Musical Festival for their annual festival of arts and music, taking place in March 2023. This project is estimated to benefit 1,180 people in the Common Good Fund area. In the wider community, the project will benefit approximately 1,770 people, including performers and the audience.
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5.5 The Perthshire Music Festival has been awarded funding over the last few years. Financial Year Amount Granted April 2022 £4,569* December 2020 £2500 *The award made in April 2022 was for the festival in March 2022. 5.6 The total cost of the project is estimated at £27,120, of which £11,146 has been secured through the group’s reserves which will go towards the event expenditure. A breakdown of the full costs has been provided below: Specific items Amount Facility Hire £9,420 Adjudicator/Accompanist Costs £8,200 Postage, etc. £790 Stationery, Printing, Advertising £1,840 Music Purchases £300 Insurance £570 Website Maintenance/Licences £1,470 Honorarium £3,310 Piano Hire/Tuning £450 Audit/Affiliation Fees £430 Other Expenditure £340 Total £27,120 Additional Pending Funding Forteviot Trust / Thomson Trust £2,050 Pending William Syson Foundation £2,500 received in May 2022 Gannochy Trust £6,000 Pending Estimated Ticket sales income £10,480 estimated Quiz Night fundraiser £862 estimated Income from Programme sales and merchandise £680 estimated Consideration 5.7 It is considered that a grant of £5,424 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(b). Moncreiffe Tea Dance Group 5.8 A grant of £255 has been requested from the Moncreiffe Tea Dance group for their annual Christmas party on 14 December. 5.9 This project is estimated to benefit 25 people from the Common Good Fund area. A number of the group are pensioners on a limited income. This project will support their mental health and wellbeing as it tackles social isolation over the festive period.
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5.10 The total cost of the project is estimated at £545. A breakdown of costs has been provided below. The group were last awarded funding by the Common Good Fund in 2019 for £315. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Hire of Hall £30 Music £25 x 4hrs £100 Catering £375 Total £545 Consideration 5.11 In line with Criteria 9.8, the Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. Friends of St John’s Kirk 5.12 In the Perth Common Good Fund budget of February 2022, provisions for a grant totalling £2,000 was made for the Friends of St John’s Kirk to support carillon recitals in the Kirk. St John’s are now looking to draw down the funding allocated in the budget for this financial year 2022/2023. St John’s Kirk were last awarded a grant of £1,500 funding in 2019. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount 14 Recitals Each cost £140 £1960 Printing and lighting costs £40 Total £2,000 Consideration 5.13 It is considered that a grant of £2,000 is consistent with the approved budget for financial year 2022/2023. Perth Orchestral Society 5.14 A grant of £4,400 has been requested by the Perth Orchestral Society to help support this year’s annual running costs. The grant will go towards funding the hiring of their professional conductor and orchestra leader for this year's performances. 5.15 This project is estimated to support 68 members from the Common Good area. Nine members come from outside Perth and Kinross. The Orchestral Society is the only amateur adult orchestral society in the area. Being able to play music together contributes to members mental health and wellbeing. It is estimated that around 1,670 members of the public will attend the performances over the year. 5.16 The total cost of the project is estimated at £22,275 of which £8,900 has been secured though other funds. A breakdown of costs has been provided below.
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Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Fees to Conductor, leader, soloist and extra players Agreed rates (negotiated with conductor, leader, soloist: Standard rate for players) £10,460 Concert hall hire £8,000 Rehearsal venue hire £40 per hire £1,000 Music Hire, and Librarian expenses £1,000 Publicity Posters, programmes etc) £250 Annual Administrative Based on previous years £1,565 Total proposed expenditure £22,275 Contribution from Group £2,900 Contribution from Participants £4,800 Forteviot Trust (approved) £1,200 Gannochy Trust (Pending) £5,000 Gift aid from Subscriptions, fundraising and donations £3,935 Funding requested £4,400 Consideration 5.17 It is considered that a grant of £4,400 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(b). Tulloch Primary School Parent Council 5.18 A grant of £480 has been requested by the Tulloch Primary School Parent Council for this year’s Pantomime to be held at the school. This project is estimated to support 432 pupils from Tulloch Primary School to attend the Pantomime. All participants are from the Common Good Fund area. 5.19 The total cost of the project is estimated at £1,199 of which £719.60 has been secured though other funds. The Parent Council were previously awarded funding by the Common Good in previous financial years. Financial Year Amount Granted 2021 £440 2019 £420
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A breakdown of costs for this application has been provided below. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount M&M productions Booking Contract £1,199 Total proposed expenditure £1,199 Contribution from Group £719.40 Funding requested £480 Consideration 5.20 It is considered that a grant of £480 is consistent with Criteria 9.7. Buttons & Bows Baby Bank 5.21 A grant of £540 has been requested by the Button and Bows Baby Bank to offer free activity sessions to families with children under 4 years old. Families will have the opportunity to take part in an activity with their babies/children. These sessions will be delivered in partnership with Nature Connects Perthshire who will be the tutor and will plan and deliver the sessions. This project is estimated to support 56 people from the Common Good area. 5.22 The total cost of the project is estimated at £800 of which £260 has been secured though other funds. A breakdown of costs has been provided below. The Button and Bows Baby Bank were previously awarded a grant of £2,000 in May 2021 for a trial of baby bank sessions at a local food share project. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Venue rental £10 her hour (2 hour per week over 21 weeks £420 Activity Costs Tutors Fees for delivering sessions £120.00 Arts & Craft materials £100 Refreshments £160 Total proposed expenditure £800 Contribution from Group £260 Funding requested £540 Consideration 5.23 In line with Criteria 9.8, the Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. Perth Festival of Arts 5.24 A grant of £1,588 has been requested by the Perth Festival of the Arts for their annual arts festival, taking place for 10 days in May in venues around the
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city. The festival covers a wide range of arts and aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the arts, enjoying new opportunities and insights, and benefiting from the many life-enhancing benefits that the arts bring. 5.25 This project is estimated to support 5,900 people from the Common Good Fund area and another 1,960 who are from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross. The Project will run from 18 – 27 May 2023. By using cultural venues and outside spaces the banners will help showcase the festival around the City Centre. The investment will help maintain the festivals brand and presence for at least the next three years. 5.26 The total cost of the project is estimated at £3,970. A breakdown of costs has been provided below. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Design of pop-up banners and outdoor banners £650 Production Pop up banners x4 Hangings x12 plus installation £276 £2,376 Window clings for local businesses £243 Gazebo hire and delivery £225 T-shirts for Volunteers £10 per t-shirt £200 Total proposed expenditure £3,970 Contribution from Group £2,382 Funding requested £1,588 Consideration 5.27 It is considered that a grant of £1,588 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(a). 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Committee is asked to consider the applications for funding and agree any financial assistance to be awarded. Authors Name Designation Contact Details James Gardner Lee Haxton Community Empowerment Officer Community Planning Team Leader (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 23 November 2022
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APPENDICES • Appendix 1 – Perth City Common Good Fund Criteria
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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. The recommendations contained within this report will be funded from the 2022/23 Financial Assistance budgets.
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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.
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4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Head of Finance and the Head of Legal and Governance have been consulted. External 4.2 Not applicable. 5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 6. BACKGROUND PAPERS 6.1 Perth Common Good Fund Application papers.