Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 22 May 2023
Back to Perth Common Good Fund Committee — 22 May 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Perth Common Good Fund Committee 22 May 2023 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No. 23/144) PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Perth Common Good Fund Committee to consider five small grant applications, one cost of living grant application and two capital 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: Proposals: Small Grants • Section 6: Proposals: Cost of Living Grants • Section 7: Proposals: Capital Grants • Section 8: 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.
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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). 4.4 The 2023/24 Budget for the Perth Common Good Fund was approved at the Committee meeting on 6 February 2023 (Report 23/37 refers). A summary of the approved Financial Assistance budget, committed grant funding, and the budget remaining, is provided below: 2023/24 Financial Assistance Budget St John's Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost Of Living Grant Capital Grants £2,000 £20,000 £75,000 £69,500 £50,000 Value of funding requested and under consideration Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £39,630 £10,520 £5,350 5. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS World Challenge Trip to Ecuador 5.1 A grant of £250 has been requested from a young person, who lives in the Common Good area. The grant will help the applicant raise funds towards a taking part in a group trip to Ecuador coordinated by the organisation, World Challenge to carry out voluntary work in the local farming communities, promoting sustainable farming and helping to carry out manual maintenance tasks. The trip will cover an approx. six week period during June and July of this year. 5.2 The project’s total cost is estimated at £5,800, of which £1,060 is already secured by the applicant’s fundraising activities. The applicant is hoping to cover the remaining costs through future fundraising efforts. A full breakdown of the costs has been provided below. Specific items Amount Cost of Trip (Transport, Accommodation, Food, etc.) £5,300 Cost of Equipment (Clothing, Sleeping Bag, Rucksack, etc.) £500 Total proposed expenditure £5,800 Contribution from Individual £1,060 Funding requested £250
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Consideration 5.3 It is considered that a grant of £250 is consistent with Criteria 9.4. Friends of Letham Primary Parent Council 5.4 A grant of £680 has been requested from the Friends of Letham Primary Parent Council. The grant will enable the Parent Council to pay for P7’s leavers hoodies so that all pupils will receive one. They would also like to purchase two urns for use at parents’ events. These purchases are estimated to benefit 126 people from the Common Good Area. 5.5 The total project cost is estimated at £680, and the applicant is requesting funding for the full amount. The school has already allocated its Management Budget for 2023/24 and is not able to contribute. If partially funded, pupils will be asked to cover the remaining cost, which may prevent some from receiving a hoodie. A full breakdown of the costs has been provided below. The Parent Council have not received Common Good funding in the last three years. Specific items Amount Urns £140 Leavers Hoodies £540 Total proposed expenditure £680 Funding requested £680 Consideration 5.6 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 Minorities Association 5.7 A grant of £20,000 has been requested by Perth Minorities Association for the summer Mela Festival, a celebration of world music, dance, and culture, featuring a colourful parade and a day of activities on the North Inch on 10 June. The Mela will offer various types of music, dancers, food, and crafts to bring all our communities together. The aim is to create closer ties within Perth and celebrate culture, inclusion, and diversity by inviting the local community to participate in culturally inclusive activities and events. The project has no entry fee so the grant would help source music, dance acts and stage equipment for the set up on the day. Previous events have attracted around 10,000 people from all age ranges across Perth and Kinross and further afield. The Association is working with partner organisations such as the Perth Welfare Society and Jar of Jewels. It is estimated that 6000 people from the Common Good Area will benefit from the activity this year along with 2500 people from elsewhere in Perth & Kinross and 1500 people from outside of Perth & Kinross.
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5.8 The total cost of the project is estimated at £50,000, based on the costs of previous events. £10,000 will be provided by the applicant and another £10,000 will be covered by sponsorships from participants. It is hoped that other partner organisations will get sponsorship to support the remaining costs. A full breakdown of the costs is detailed below. Perth Minorities Association has not received Common Good funding in the last three years. Specific items Amount Infrastructure (Stage, Lighting, Flooring etc.) £10,000 Dance Acts £12,000 Live Music £15,000 Kids Funfair £5,000 Health and Safety (Toilet Hire, Waste Facilities, Security etc.) £8,000 Total proposed expenditure £50,000 Contribution from applicant £10,000 Contribution from Sponsorships £10,000 Funding requested £20,000 Consideration 5.9 It is considered that a grant of £20,000 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(a). Parent Fundraisers of Inspire Dance Studios 5.10 A grant of £500 has been requested by the Parent Fundraisers of Inspire Dance Studios. The grant will help the organisation meet costs to take a group of dancers to Dublin in August for the World Lyrical Dance Federation World Championships. All dancers are required to cover the costs of their competition entry, travel and accommodation for the 5 days of the competition. The grant will therefore be used to cover some of these costs for 9 individuals from the Common Good Area. 5.11 The trip’s total cost is estimated at £690 with the organisation requesting funding of £500 and the participants covering the remaining costs. A full breakdown of the costs is provided below. The Parent Fundraisers have not received Common Good funding in the last three years. Specific items Amount Entry costs for competition £140 Hotel £350 Travel £200 Total proposed expenditure £690 Estimated contribution by participants* £690 Funding requested £500 *All costs over and above the estimated £690 will be covered by the participants Consideration 5.12 It is considered that a grant of £500 is consistent with Criteria 9.7.
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Black Watch Regimental Trust 5.13 A grant of £18,196.33 has been requested by the Black Watch Regimental Trust, however the Trust is also seeking funds from other sources with applications pending, and totalling £13,000. As such, funding required from Common Good may be a minimum of £5,196.33. The Trust have secured the only visit to Scotland of ‘The Hauntings’ – a six-metre-tall sculpture of a battle weary, WW1 soldier returning home. This privately commissioned sculpture made from scrap iron will be on public view at the Black Watch Museum, Balhousie Castle from 1 July until 12 November, Remembrance Sunday 2023. Throughout this period, the Trust will seek to engage with the public through 3 themes: Culture and Community, the Impact of Conflict, and Remembrance and Commemoration. The sculpture will be free to view, as will three panel exhibitions supporting each of these themes and there will be free hourly talks on the sculpture in the castle grounds. It is estimated that 13,174 people from within the Common Good Area will benefit from this project as well as 12,174 from elsewhere in Perth & Kinross and 16,218 from outside Perth & Kinross. 5.14 The Trust also plan to offer free school visits for 1000 pupils from the Perth area. In addition, the Trust will be working with groups such as veterans, mental health groups and refugees in a series of creative workshops and will recruit new volunteers to help engage with visitors. The grant will help with the costs of transporting and installing the statue, marketing and national advertising, production of a souvenir brochure, the creation and installation of our supporting exhibitions, the cost of the free school visits and the running of workshops for targeted groups. 5.15 The Black Watch Regimental Trust has been awarded the following funding over the last three financial years. Financial Year Purpose Amount Granted June 2022 Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at the Castle £684.98 5.16 The project’s total cost is estimated at £60,823.33 with £27,560 being covered by contributions from the Group; £2,000 has been received from the Forteviot Trust and £9,000 may come from pending applications to external funders. An estimated value of £15,067 being covered by in-kind support. A full breakdown of the costs is detailed in Appendix 2. Whilst the applicant has requested up to £18,196.33 Committee should note that £11,000 may be brought in from other funders. A funding breakdown is provided below. Total proposed expenditure £60,823.33 In-kind support £15,067 Contribution from Group £27,560 Funding requested £18,196.33 Successful Applications Forteviot Trust £2,000
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Applications Pending Friends of the Black Watch £5,000 Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust £2,000 The Thomson Trust £2,000 Potential final funding gap £7,196.33 Consideration 5.17 It is considered that a grant of up to £18,200 is consistent with Criteria 9.2(a). Committee should be aware that this figure could reduce depending on the outcome of pending applications. 6. PROPOSALS – COST OF LIVING GRANTS VitalityMe CIC 6.1 A grant of £10,520 has been requested from VitalityMe CIC, to be drawn down from previously identified Common Good Cost of Living support totalling £69,500. This grant will enable the organisation to run two groups, which initially started as a response to Cost of Living, for which they received £6,500 from the Council’s Cost of Living Community Fund in 2022/23. They are looking to run a family group for 2 hours a week where families can come together to focus on improving their overall wellbeing through family activities such as yoga, fitness, crafting and baking as well as providing a hot meal and refreshments. Another group would be targeted at adults with a movement- based activity, lunch and peer support. This would also run for 2 hours a week, linking in with local services to come along to provide advice on financial wellbeing, employment support, welfare rights, fire safety etc. The applicant has reached out to organisations such as SCARF (Save Cash And Reduce Fuel) and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to provide advice on fuel and energy concerns as well as fire safety. The applicant also refers participants to agencies such as Homestart and Employability4All and understands how to refer to Welfare Rights and PKAVS if needed. This funding will cover the project from May 2023 to October 2023. VitalityMe CIC have not received Common Good funding in the last three years. 6.2 The project’s total cost is estimated at £11,520, with £10,520 being requested and £1,000 being covered by donations to the group. A full breakdown of the costs is provided below. Specific items Amount Staffing Costs (£15/hour x 7hr/week 3hrs planning per group for 2 staff) £2,370 Rent (£15/hour, 6hrs/week incl. set-up/takedown) £2,730 Food (£3.50pp dinner and £2.50pp lunch for 30 people) £4,680 Refreshments (Tea/Coffee/Fruit - £30/week) £780 Crafts/Activity Supplies £600 Total proposed expenditure £11,520 Contribution from Group £1,000 Funding requested £10,520
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Consideration 6.3 In line with Criteria 9.8, the Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. Committee should note that this would be drawn down from the £69,500 funds previously earmarked from the Perth Common Good Fund to support Cost of Living projects. 7. PROPOSALS – CAPITAL GRANTS Perth Working Men’s Garden Association (PWMGA) 7.1 An application for up to £3,000 has been received by PWMGA to contribute to the refurbishment of their pavilion on Moncreiffe Island. The grant will contribute towards securing the fabric of the association’s pavilion, by refurbishing or replacing roof lights, slates and other components. The windows and doors will also be repaired and replaced if required, making the building weathertight and much warmer and attractive as a social space. Success will be judged by its greater use by plot-holders and by the public as the number of open events increases. 7.2 Around 150 plot-holders from within the Common Good Area will benefit from the project. It is estimated that an additional 250 people from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross will benefit from the project during the Annual Open Day. At time of the application’s submission, the work was due to commence in April 2023, with an estimate to have this completed within a month. 7.3 The total costs are estimated to be £11,385, having secured £8,385 from contributions from the Group, participants, and other funders. A breakdown is provided below. Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount Labour Quotation £9,000 Materials Paint, etc. for volunteers £700 In-kind contributions Hourly Rate £1,685 Total Proposed Expenditure £11,385 Thomson Charitable Trust (Approved) £3,000 Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust (Approved) £3,000 Contribution from Group/Individual funds £700 Contribution by participants (in-kind hours) £1,685 Funding requested £3,000 Consideration 7.4 It is considered that a grant of £2,850 is consistent with Criteria 10.4. Perth Bridge Club 7.5 An application of £2,500 has been received from Perth Bridge Club to assist with a major upgrade to their fire prevention, alarm and safety system. The grant will be used to upgrade the existing fire prevention facilities and introduce fire resistant measures in the basement area to meet the recommendations of a Fire Assessors report from December 2022. The work
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will continue the Club’s priorities towards the safety of their members and neighbouring properties. It will also ensure that the Club continues its use of the facilities to teaching new and prospective members a new skill. 7.6 It is estimated that 95 people from the Common Good Area will benefit from the project along with 40 from elsewhere in Perth & Kinross and 10 from outside Perth & Kinross. The work is due to commence in June 2023, with completion in August 2023. 7.7 The project’s total cost is estimate at £10,000, with £5,000 to be covered from the Club’s reserves and £2,500 to be applied for from the Gannochy Trust. A full breakdown of the costs is provided below. Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount Joinery Work Quote £7,965 Fire Alarm Upgrade Quote £500 Emergency Lighting Repairs Quote £500 Building Work and Painting Quote £500 Sundries and Contingencies Quote £535 Total Proposed Expenditure £10,000 Contribution from Group £5,000 Gannochy Trust (Pending) £2,500 Funding requested £2,500 Consideration 7.8 It is considered that a grant of £2,500 is consistent with Criteria 10.4(a). 7. CONCLUSION 8.1 The Committee is asked to consider the applications for funding and agree any financial assistance to be awarded. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Jacob Dudgeon Lee Haxton Community Planning & Projects Officer Community Planning Team Leader (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 4 May 2023
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APPENDICES • Appendix 1 – Perth City Common Good Fund Criteria • Appendix 2 – Black Watch Costings
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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 2023/24 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. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 Perth Common Good Fund Application papers.