Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 26 August 2024
Back to Pitlochry Common Good Fund Committee — 26 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
PITLOCHRY COMMON GOOD FUND COMMITTEE 26 August 2024 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (Report No. 24/225) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Pitlochry Common Good Fund Committee to consider one capital grant application. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the 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: Proposal: Capital 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 Pitlochry Common Good Fund. 4.4 A summary of the projected surplus, committed grant funding, and the surplus remaining, is provided below: 2024/23 projected surplus £2,800 Value of grants paid and committed £0 Remaining projected uncommitted surplus £2,800 Value of funding requested and under consideration £2,000
Page 2
5. PROPOSAL – CAPITAL GRANT Holy Trinity Church- Serentiy Garden 5.1 The Serentiy Garden Volunteers at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church are seeking a grant of £2,000 to contribute to works to make the garden more accessible. The disused churchyard was transformed into a garden in 2020 for the benefit and enjoyment of the local community, schools, groups, as well as church events. Since then, the garden volunteers have worked with The Pitlochry Theatre, with whom they have run children’s groups and worked together on projects including caring for one another, diversity and care for our environment. They have also supported the Drama Group at Pitlochry High School, teaching the young people improvisation skills and giving confidence which resulted in a Christmas play in the Serenity Garden. They have also supported the Mums and Toddler Group, learning through play. A number of local groups use the garden - the Mindfulness group, Pitlochry Choral Society, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Mums and toddler group, a local book group, local families and of course the Pitlochry Episcopal church for weddings, services, regular craft and other fairs, carol concerts and the Christmas nativity play. 5.2 The garden is not currently wheelchair accessible which has meant that some individuals have been excluded from enjoying the garden. The garden is flat which makes it different from other local gardens, and a good location to provide wheelchair access. The garden has some raised beds and local wheelchair users would be able to participate in gardening and maintaining these beds. Making the garden more accessible will also improve access for children in prams. In-Kind Support will be provided by volunteers. There are currently nine volunteers who contribute four hours each per week. It is hoped that a grant to support work to the garden could benefit one thousand people form the common good area, and many more from elsewhere in Peth and Kinross, as well as visitors from outwith. 5.3 The project would involve replacing the gravelled pathway with pre-cast paving slabs, levelling the new path to remove the steps and bumps and widening the gate in the wall which leads into the garden and continuing the paved path into the heart of the garden. This work will be carried out by a local business and a summary of costs is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Materials Quote from local company £5,364.87 Machine Hire Quote from local company £1,125 Soil extraction, construction, and dumping charge Quote from local company £1,800 Labour Quote from local company £4,800 Widening wall and fixing gate to fix Quote from local company £600 Contribution from group (from plant sales, gardening projects, and ‘nearly new’ sale £900 Contribution from visitor donations £900 Enchanted Forest Community Fund (approved) £1,500 Andie Millar’s Trust (approved) £2,000
Page 3
Blair Athol Distillery (pending) £1,000 Land & Nature Award, A Rocha (Eco Church) (pending) £1,000 Lottery Small Grants (pending) £3,200 Funding source still to be identified £1,189.87 Total proposed expenditure £13,689.87 Funding Requested from Kinross Common Good Fund £2,000 5.4 As noted in the table above, the project still needs to identify a source for the £1,189.87 funding gap. The group are working to identify a source for this and hope that the Church may be able to support if a funder cannot be identified. Consideration 5.5 Committee is asked to consider the request in the report 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. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Sarah Kimmet David Stoke Community Empowerment Officer Service Manager Communities 01738 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Elaine Ritchie Strategic Lead Housing and Communities 19 July 2024 APPENDICES None
Page 4
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, Business and Finance 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.
Page 5
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 Leads for Finance and Business Support, Legal and Governance and Housing and Communities have been consulted. External 4.2 Not applicable.
Page 6
5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 None.