Item 08 - Update on Voluntary Grants 2025-26
West Dunbartonshire Council · 19 August 2026
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 19 August 2026 and its agenda
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Official WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer - Resources Corporate Services Committee: 19th August 2026 Subject: Update on Voluntary Grants 2025/26 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update on the voluntary grants administered and awarded by West Dunbartonshire Community & Volunteering Services (WDCVS) in 2025/26 in respect of Community Chest and Social Transport Support Funding Grants on behalf of the Council. 1.2 The report also provides information on the position regarding the Provost’s Fund and the Dumbarton Common Good Fund. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Committee is asked to note the position of the grants paid out by WDCVS, the Provost’s Fund and the Dumbarton Common Good Fund. 3. Background 3.1 The Corporate Services Committee in March 2007 agreed that a report should be brought to Committee after each year-end, providing information with regards the grants approved during the financial year. 3.2 Community Chest and Social Transport Support Grants are administered by WDCVS. The Council continues to administer grants from the Dumbarton Common Good and the Provost’s Fund. 3.3 The Provost’s Fund was established in 1953 as the Burgh of Clydebank Provost’s Fund and in November 1998, it was determined that the Fund may be used to cover the whole of West Dunbartonshire. 4. Main Issues WDCVS Administered Funds 4.1 During 2025/26, the total budgets available and the amounts paid out in grants administered by WDCVS are noted below:
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Official Group Type Total Budget £ Agreed Spend £ % Spent Community Chest 25,000 25,000 100% Social Transport Support 50,000 49,700 99% WDC funded total 75,000 74,700 100% Community Chest 4.2 The 2025/26 budget was set at £25,000 which was fully utilised in year; details of which are noted within Appendix 1. 4.3 In addition to the above, a number of organisations submitted funding applications and were referred by WDCVS to other funders. As a result of this, a further £457,895 of applications for funding was supported by WDCVS by re-routing applications to other sources as noted in Appendix 2. Social Transport funding 4.4 The 2025/26 budget was set at £50,000 of which £49,700 was utilised in year; details are provided within Appendix 3. Provost’s Fund 4.5 The Provost’s Fund was awarded an annual budget of £3,000, which was fully utilised during 2025/26 as detailed within Appendix 4. Dumbarton Common Good 4.6 Dumbarton Common Good Fund made a total of 19 contributions during 2025/26 totaling £411,032 (79%) against a budget of £522,319 as detailed in appendix 5. 4.7 The main reason for the budget underspend was due to an underspend of £29,641 on Town Centre Management. This part of the budget has been devolved to the Regeneration Team for a number of years and it is anticipated that this balance will be fully spent within 2026/27. There was also an underspend of £9,650 on the property maintenance budget, with planned expenditure for 2026/27. 5. Options Appraisal 5.1 No option appraisal was required for this report. 6. People Implications 6.1 There are no people implications.
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Official 7. Financial and Procurement Implications 7.1 WDCVS paid out grants totaling £74,700 during 2025/26, the Provost’s Fund spent £3,000; while the Dumbarton Common Good fund spent £411,032 on contributions. 8. Risk Analysis 8.1 The Council must consider financial and reputational risks when considering grant applications. The financial risk is not only that the Council and Common Good Fund remain within budget, but also that the organisations funded by the Council and the Common Good Fund are both viable in the long term and comply with the Conditions of Grant which cover issues such as discrimination, health and safety, insurance, etc. 9. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 9.1 No equalities impact assessment was required in relation to this report. 10. Environmental Sustainability 10.1 No assessment of environmental sustainability was required in relation to this report. 11. Consultation 11.1 Legal and Financial Officers have been consulted in preparing this report. 12. Strategic Assessment 12.1 Proper budgetary control and sound financial practice are cornerstones of good governance and support Council and officers to pursue the 5 strategic priorities of the Councils Strategic Plan. 12.2 Payment of voluntary grants contributes to improvements in life changes for children and young people, care for elderly and the wellbeing of communities. Laurence Slavin Chief Officer, Resources Date: 19 August 2026 Person to Contact: Janine Corr, Finance Business Partner, Church Street, Dumbarton Email: janine.corr@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
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Official Appendices: Appendix 1 : Breakdown of Community Chest 2025/26 Appendix 2 : Organisations supported by WDCVS to attract external funding in 2025/26 Appendix 3 : Breakdown of Social Transport Grants 2025/26 Appendix 4 : Breakdown of the Provost Fund Grants 2025/26 Appendix 5 : Breakdown of Dumbarton Common Good Grants 2025/26 Background Papers: Grant application summary information Individual group grant applications Wards Affected: All wards