Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 29 January 2024
Back to Perth Common Good Fund Committee — 29 January 2024 and its agenda
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PERTH COMMON GOOD FUND COMMITTEE 29 January 2024 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No.24/27) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Perth Common Good Fund Committee to consider an application towards St John’s Kirk Carillon; four small grant applications and one cost of living grant application. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • considers the grant applications 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: St John’s Kirk Carillon • Section 6: Proposals: Small Grants • Section 7: Proposals: Cost of Living Grant • 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. 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
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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 grants paid and committed St John’s Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £0 £22,000 £46,997 £10,520 £46,953 Remaining Financial Assistance Budget St John’s Kirk Carillon Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £2,000 £26,003 £58,980 £3,047 Value of funding requested and under consideration St John’s Kirk Carillon Small Grants Cost of Living Grant £2,000 £7,645 £15,000 5. PROPOSALS – ST JOHN’S KIRK CARILLON 5.1 St John’s Kirk of Perth have requested their full allocated annual grant of £2,000 from Perth Common Good Fund to assist them with the costs relating to their 2023/24 Carillon Programme. Throughout the current financial year, they have planned 16 recitals ranging from Medieval Dance Music to Christmas Carols. The programme ensures that the Bells of Perth are played regularly, whilst working around the ongoing spire works. It is estimated that 5,000 people from the Common Good Area will benefit this project, including those near and passing by during the bells, with a large increase expected in the next financial year once Perth Museum opens. 5.2 The total cost of the recitals is estimated to be at least £2,240 with full costs for publicity and lighting yet to be determined. The group are requesting a grant of £2,000 as annually allocated by the Committee.
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Consideration 5.3 In line with prior agreement for this funding, it is considered that a grant of £2,000 is appropriate in these circumstances. 6. PROPOSALS – SMALL GRANTS Perth Chinese Association 6.1 A grant of £2,236 has been requested from Perth Chinese Association. The grant is for part of their annual event to share their annual Chinese Cultural Celebration with residents in Perth and Kinross on Sunday 11th February 2024. The plans for this year’s celebrations include a procession starting from 2 High Street, circling the Museum with a blessing for its upcoming opening. The procession will then return to 2 High Street for an afternoon of entertainment and craft stalls. This project is estimated to benefit 1750 people in the Common Good Area, with participants in the event also coming from other areas in Perth and Kinross and further afield. 6.2 The total cost for the event is estimated at £5,588. The group are requesting £2,236 to assist with the costs. The group have indicated that they can contribute £1,000 and have received £750 from the Council’s Equalities budget. A full breakdown of the total costs is provided below. Specific items Amount Chinese Singer/Performers Travel £500 Chinese Singer/Performers Fees (In-Kind) £1,000 Chinese Lion & Dragon Performance £2,588 Craft Workshops £1,000 Volunteer Expenses (In-Kind) £500 Total proposed expenditure £5,588 Contribution from Group £1,000 PKC Equalities (Approved) £750 In-Kind Contributions £1,500 Funding requested £2,236 6.3 The Perth Chinese Association have been awarded the following amounts in previous years: Financial Year Amount Awarded Projects Funded 2021/22 £4,200 Chinese New Year – Postponed to 2022 2022/23 £9,000 Mela Festival 2022/23 £4,875 Chinese New Year 2023 Consideration 6.4 It is considered that a grant of £2,240 is consistent with Criteria 9.2a.
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Perth Flower Club 6.5 A grant of £350 has been requested from Perth Flower Club. The grant will assist the group in hiring a coach to take their members to Tomnah’a Gardens at Comrie Croft. The trip will enhance the members existing knowledge and passion for flora and fauna, whilst learning new regenerative techniques and processes being applied to horticulture. It is estimated that 30 people from the Common Good Area will benefit from the trip as well as 5 people from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross. 6.6 The total cost of the trip is estimated at £350, covering the coach hire only. The group are requesting the full amount. Perth Flower Club have not received Common Good funding in the last three years. Consideration 6.7 It is considered that a grant of £180 is consistent with Criteria 9.6. Perth Festival of the Arts 6.8 A grant of £1,981 has been requested by Perth Festival of the Arts. The grant will support the staging of a new series of the Festival’s Community Stages Project held on the Saturdays of 25 May and 1 June. The stages will feature pop-up concerts showcasing community arts organisations and groups that involve musicians, singers and other art forms from around Perth & Kinross. It is hoped that the stages will be spread across the city. The Community Stages aim to celebrate and promote the variety of home-grown artistic talent in Perth & Kinross, bringing vibrant concerts and pop-up arts experiences to local people in a way that is fully accessible and free to the audience member. It is estimated that around 6,000 people from the Common Good Area will benefit from the wider Festival, as well as 2,600 people from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross and around 4,500 people from further afield.
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6.9 The total cost of the project is estimated at £4,954, with £1,981 being requested from Perth Common Good Fund. The Group will cover the remaining £2,973 as part of the Festival budget. A full breakdown of the total costs is provided below. Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount (£) Donations/Fees to six community arts organisations Mix of hire cost/donations (6x £500) £3,000 Production – Power Based on 2023 charge £275 Production - Audio Est. budget for PA system/engineers £500 Production – Chairs/Gazebos Quote £734 Venue Hire Based on current rates £250 Flyer 1000 copies of printed flyers £45 Performance Royalties £25 per event – charges set by PRS £150 Total Proposed Expenditure £4,954 Contribution from Group £2,973 Funding requested £1,981 6.10 Perth Festival of the Arts have been awarded the following amounts in previous years: Financial Year Amount Awarded Projects Funded 2022/23 £1,588 2023 Festival Consideration 6.11 It is considered that a grant of £1,990 is consistent with Criteria 9.2a. ESOL Perth 6.12 A grant of £600 has been requested by ESOL Perth. The grant will assist them with the running of guitar lessons. They have had a guitar class running for the last six months, which has been well attended by 6-8 children every week. The class is supported by one tutor and 2 young people working for their Duke of Edinburgh Award from Strathallan School. The money requested would go towards continued pay for the sessional tutor, alongside funding towards room hire and the purchase of 5 ¾-sized guitars for the young people to use during lessons and practising. It is estimated that 12 young people from the Common Good area will benefit from this project. 6.13 The total cost of this project is estimated at £1,500. £600 has already been secured through Robertson Trust to cover the room hire, including heating. A funding request to the Local Action Partnership is also pending to cover the guitars at a value of £300 total. A full breakdown of the costs is provided below.
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Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount (£) Tutor 1 hr/week for 24 weeks @ £25 £600 ¾ Guitars Approx. £60 per guitar x 5 £300 Room Hire 1hr/week for 24 weeks @ £25 £600 Total Proposed Expenditure £1,500 Robertson Trust (Room Hire – Approved) £600 LAP Funding (Guitars – Approved) £300 Funding requested £600 Consideration 6.14 In line with Criteria 9.8, the Committee is asked to consider the request and determine the level of any grant to be awarded. 7. PROPOSALS – COST OF LIVING GRANT Letham4All 7.1 Letham4All have requested a grant of £15,000 to assist them in continuing to operate their PayPoint voucher distribution as well as the purchase and distribution of Perth Cards. This continues their cash first approach, supporting people through immediate financial crisis by being able to offer small amounts of cash, via the vouchers and cards. This offers a swift and dignified resolution for those struggling during the Cost-of-Living Crisis. The grant would also help the group to maintain stock levels for their community fridges and emergency food parcels. It is estimated that 1,000 people from the Common Good Area will benefit from the project, along with 100 people from elsewhere in Perth & Kinross. 7.2 The total costs of this project is estimated to be £24,966, of which £9,966 is funded by other funders. The group are requesting £15,000 to cover the purchasing of Paypoint Vouchers; Perth Cards and community fridge stock. Specific Items Basis of Costing Amount (£) Utility Vouchers Voucher amounts vary between £30 and £50 £5,000 Perth Cards Perth Cards in £30 and £50 denominations £5,000 Community Fridges Purchases of tinned and dried food as required £5,000 Paypoint Platform Platform Licence and associated costs £9,966 Total Proposed Expenditure £24,966 Awards for All (Approved) Paypoint Platform Costs £9,966 Funding requested £15,000 7.3 As a cost-of-living application, Committee is asked to determine the level of any grant to be awarded.
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8. 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 Community Planning & Projects Officer (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Lee Haxton Community Planning Team Leader Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 9 January 2024 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 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 Strategic Lead, Finance and Business Support and the Strategic Lead, 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.