Coals for the Poor Oban - Award Recommendation
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 December 2024
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 11 December 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 11 December 2024 XX MARCH 2021 COALS FOR THE POOR OBAN - AWARD RECOMMENDATION 1.0 APPLICATIONS 1.1 This report gives Members information regarding a single application that has been received for support from the Coals for the Poor Oban fund. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee is asked to award £50 to the single, individual applicant that meets the criteria to receive support from the Coals for the Poor Oban fund. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on 06 March 2024 agreed new distribution arrangements for the Coals for the Poor Oban, which had been established to provide coal to poor person residents in the Burgh of Oban. In order to be considered for an award applicants must: 3.1.1 be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Universal Credit) and for those people who are employed/self-employed, they must be in receipt of some amount of Universal Credit as well (a nil payment due to deductions for earned income would mean they do not qualify); 3.1.2 live within the Burgh of Oban area; and 3.1.3 be over the age of 16. 3.2 Furthermore, it was agreed that successful individual applicants would receive £50 while those applying on behalf of their family would receive £100. 3.3 Following agreement of the new distribution arrangements a single, individual application has been received. Given the niche nature of the fund it is not surprising that more applications have not been received. Officers continue to routinely promote the availability of this, and other funds that the Area Committee are trustees of. 3.4 This application meets the criteria and is recommended for an award of £50 with total funds available for distribution from the fund standing at around £2.2k. 4.0 CONCLUSION
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4.1 Members are asked to consider the application that has been received for support from the Coals for the Poor Oban fund and to approve the financial award recommended within this report. 5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – None 5.2 Financial – None, the Council acts as trustee for the Fund, it does not represent assets of the Council. However, there is a risk that the Council would have to repay the Trust if an objection was raised as to the use of the funds. 5.3 Legal – Area Committees, as Trustees, must ensure that the distribution arrangements comply with the terms of the funds, failure to do so would result in the Council being liable. 5.4 HR – None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 5.5.1 Equalities / Fairer Scotland Duty - None 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 5.5.3 Islands – None 5.6 Risk – None 5.7 Customer Service – None 5.8 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Policy Lead – Councillor Mark Irvine 2 December 2024 For further information contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Tel. No.: 01436 658717 Email: Stuart.Mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Application for support from the Coals for the Poor Oban (private)