Report by Executive Director responsible for Legal and Regulatory Support
Argyll and Bute Council · 14 June 2023
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 14 June 2023 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 14 June 2023 XX MARCH 2021 JOHN OF LORN BEQUEST AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS 1.0 APPLICATIONS 1.1 This report gives Members information regarding a number of applications that have been received and processed for support from the John of Lorn Bequest. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee are asked to note and consider the number of awards made since 1 January 2023. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on 09 September 2020 agreed new distribution arrangements for the John of Lorn Bequest, which had been established to support ‘poor persons resident 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; 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 The Area Committee on 14 September 2022 agreed to delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support or officers nominated by him, in consultation with the Chair, the authority to make awards from the John of Lorn Bequest using the criteria agreed in September 2020 and that reports be submitted to subsequent Area Committees to update trustees on awards made under this delegation. 3.4 Prior to this delegation those in need of support could wait up to 14 weeks for payment. Applications are now processed on receipt with payments made once applicants submit their banking details.
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3.5 A total of 23 applications have been received since the December 2022 meeting of the Area Committee. Officers, in consultation with the Chair have confirmed awards for 18 family and 2 individual applicants, with a total of £1.9k being awarded to individuals living within the Burgh. 3.6 A total of 3 applications have been refused. Applications will only be refused if the applicant has either received a grant this calendar year or they live out with the Burgh of Oban. Details of each application can be found at appendix 1. 3.7 The total funds available for distribution from the John of Lorn Bequest at the time of preparing this report is around £8k. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 Members are asked to note and consider the applications that have received support from the John of Lorn Bequest. 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 None 5.5.1 Equalities – protected characteristics None 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty None 5.5.3 Islands None 5.6 Climate change None 5.7 Risk None 5.8 Customer Service None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Policy Lead – Councillor Alastair Redman May 2023 For further information contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager
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Tel. No: 01436 658717 Email: Stuart.Mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Table of applications