Item 16 - Cost of Living – Capital Fund
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2025
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 21 May 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer - Resources Corporate Services Committee: 21 May 2025 Subject: Cost of Living – Capital Fund 1. PURPOSE 1.1 To report to members on the closure of the Cost-of-Living Capital Fund (the fund) and report on the groups it has supported since it was established in June 2022. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 Members are asked to: a) note the level of support provided via the Cost-of-Living Capital Fund b) agree the remaining £10,379 be removed from the capital plan with this to be formally agreed by full Council. 3. BACKGROUND 3.1 At a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council on 22 June 2022, an emergency item of business was considered and approved by members in relation to the cost-of-living crisis. This made £1,000,000 of capital funds available to support Council and community organisations with capital costs for cost-of-living initiatives. 3.2 In order to progress the initiatives set out in the motion and other developing action in relation to tackling the impact of the cost of living crisis, it was decided the previously established cross-party Cost of Living Working Group (the Working Group) would be the most appropriate forum to discuss and monitor progress, emerging issues and proposed activity. 3.3 The June 2022 motion also asked that a process be developed to review applications for capital funding to be submitted through the Working Group for consideration and then passed to an appropriate committee or Council for approval. On 26 October 2022 full Council approved the guidance and application form to support the Fund and the process to manage the Fund, including delegating powers to the Chief Officer – Resources to approve or reject applications to the Fund. The agreed application approval process can be summarised as follows: ITEM 16
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1. Applicant applies via Council website 2. Finance Officer reviews application to ensure it meets the criteria of the Fund and application is complete 3. Chief Officer – Resources circulates a summary of application to the Working Group with his recommendation for acceptance/rejection for their consideration 4. Working Group provide feedback and ask any questions regarding the application. 5. Final decision on whether to approve funding delegated to the Chief Officer - Resources. 4. MAIN ISSUES 4.1 Over the period November 2022 – March 2025 a total of 55 applications were received and three allocations were made to reflect Council decisions. This is summarised in Exhibit 1 with more detail provided in the subsequent paragraphs. Exhibit 1 – Summarised Use of Cost-of-Living Capital Fund Status Number £ Approved in Full 26 484,915 Partially Approved 10 204,153 Returned Unspent (30,068) Total Paid Out (Para 4.2) 659,000 Council Decisions (Para 4.3) 5 330,621 Rejected 19 0 Total 60 989,621 Remaining Fund 10,379 4.2 Successful Applicants (£659,000) Exhibit 2 sets out the 36 groups either fully or partially supported, the amount they were awarded and a summary of the purpose of the award. Exhibit 2 – Successful Applicants Group Purpose Award (£) 1 West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare Van 19,413 2 Clydebank Men's Shed Replacement saws and ancillary equipment 4,100 3 Clyde Shopmobility Computer equipment, mobility scooters and mobility aids 6,870 4 Carers of West Dunbartonshire Laptop, projector and accessories 3,309 5 Dalmuir Church Drop in Pantry Industrial cooker, dishwashers and laptop 7,643 6 Faifley Community Council Van 20,000
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7 Daniel's Wish Sensory equipment 9,143 8 Lomond and Clyde Care & Repair Van 22,000 9 Awestruck Academy Upgrade nursery, kitchen, IT suite and leisure equipment 29,589 10 Mini Messy Monsters Sensory equipment 3,800 11 Our Warriors Sensory equipment 5,000 12 Tullochan Commercial range cooker and ventilation for Common Good Café 9,663 13 Y Sort It Renew windows in gym hall, stage and activity area 15,120 14 Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol Double glazing, central heating, rewiring and flooring 39,644 15 BenView Resource Centre A new boiler (subsequently returned as unspent) 30,000 16 West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare Fund a new boiler 5,610 17 Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels Kitchen development and new toilets. In addition, OKFP applied for £11,000 of funding for architect's fees and supervised project management. Working Group agreed the Council will provide these services on a pro- bono basis to avoid OKFP incurring these costs. 44,000 18 Dalmuir Barclay Church Pantry Purchase a van (£68 returned as unspent) 20,000 19 Lomond Clyde Care & Repair Purchase a van 22,903 20 Clydebank Asbestos Group Repair meeting hub 37,560 21 Golden Friendships Air conditioning unit 20,000 22 Clydebank Men’s Shed Install a dust processor system 16,500 23 Lomond Parish Church Establish a community pantry 29,400 24 Alternatives Improve the kitchen and to provide a community space in Dalmuir Community Café 5,599 25 Haldane Youth Services To refurbish current rooms and provide a warm space for the community to come for training and internet access 27,051 26 Kinship Care To fund unit refurbishment, computer / gaming equipment, furnishings and kitchen equipment 27,500 27 Flourishing Faifley Purchase a van 20,846 28 Carers of West Dunbartonshire To refurbish premises 29,774 29 Dalmuir Barclay Church Pantry Kitchen refurbishment 16,330 30 The Recycle Room Refurbish the building and provide a van 37,400
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31 OKFP Refurbish windows, fire doors, toilets and heating 17,900 32 Inler Park Trust To rebuild gym and upgrade building & heating 38,000 33 BenView Resource Centre To enhance warm hub environment 8,170 34 Blue Triangle To purchase equipment for a social space 4,998 35 Alternatives To fund window replacement 1,435 36 Loch Lomond Rugby Club Install Kitchen, flooring, appliances, furnishings, install double glazing and roller shutters 32,798 Returned Unspent Amount (30,068) Total 659,000 4.3 Council Decisions (£332,000) When agreeing the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Council budgets, Council agreed, in relation to the Fund to add three new initiatives. 2024/25 - £150,000 General Capital Community Success Fund: The Council agreed to establish this capital fund using the Cost-of-Living Capital monies and have it available to support community groups for capital expenditure. This investment has helped ensure groups are in a practical position to move forward with lease arrangements and ensuring future asset transfers are viable and sustainable in the long term. As at April 2025 this fund has supported three groups to the cost of £148,621 leaving a balance of £1,379 which can be removed from the capital plan. This is summarised below. 1. Antonine Sports, Glenhead Community Centre – £107,381 Enabling works to support group in preparing to take on asset. This covered minor repairs, compliance upgrades and essential upgrades needed to bring the asset up to a useable standard. Also a condition surveys was carried out as these are the critical first step in helping community groups make informed decisions about whether an asset transfer is viable. Most groups do not have the resources or technical expertise to commission surveys, and without this information, they may take on significant unknown risks. By funding these surveys up front, we have derisked the process and given groups the confidence and evidence they need to develop strong business plans and secure funding and support 2. Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels - £7,510 Costs associated with intruder alarm repair and a condition survey. 3. West Dunbartonshire Activity Centre - £33,730 Enabling works to support group in preparing to take on assets. This covered a condition survey, minor repairs, compliance upgrades and essential upgrades
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needed to bring the asset up to a useable standard. 2024/25 - £32,000 Building improvements Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels - Napier Hall: The £32,000 is to fund building works including to supply and fit utilities, gas, electricity and plumbing. This funding has been provided to the group and the works are ongoing. 2025/26 - £150,000 to Flourishing Faifley: contribution towards a new 4G Football Pitch at Faifley Knowes. 4.4 Applications Rejected The reasons for the 19 applications where no funding was awarded can be summarised as: 1. No clear link to cost-of-living crisis (8) 2. Application not capital in nature (5) 3. Application withdrawn by applicant (2) 4. Applicant referred on to Energy Fund (2) 5. Application from a private citizen (1) 6. Application met criteria but already well supported by fund (1) 4.5 Summary and Recommendation With the exception of a small balance of £10,379, the £1 million set aside for the Cost-of-Living Capital Fund has been fully expended or committed. It has helped support 36 community groups and provided further support to five groups through the funds set aside by Council decisions made when agreeing the 2024/25 and 2025/26 budgets. It is recommended that Corporate Services note the level of support provided via the Cost-of- Living Capital Fund and agree that the remaining £10,379 be removed from the capital plan. This would be formally agreed by Council when the next Council capital budgetary control report is presented. 5. PEOPLE IMPLICATIONS 5.1 None directly from this report. 6. FINANCIAL AND PROCUREMENT IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Report summarises the use of £1m of capital funds. 7. RISK ANALYSIS 7.1 None directly from this report 8. EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) 8.1 None directly from this report
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9. CONSULTATION 9.1 The views of all the Cost-of-Living Working Group have been requested on this report and feedback incorporated herein. 10. STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT 10.1 The recommendation in this report supports the delivery of the Council Strategic Plan and in particular the achievement of the following priorities: o Our Communities – Resilient and Thriving; o Our Council – Inclusive and Adaptable Laurence Slavin Chief Officer - Resources Date: 15 April 2025 Person to Contact: Laurence Slavin, Chief Officer - Resources E-mail: laurence.slavin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Background Papers Council Motion – 22 June 2022 Council Report - Cost of Living – Capital Fund – 26 October 2022 Council Budget Report – 06 March 2024 Council Budget Report – 05 March 2025