Decision details

The Committee considered a report outlining the potential to combine grants, the ability for Community Councils to apply for third sector grants and the future of grant distribution including participatory budgeting.

 

Motion

 

That the Committee agree –

 

1.    Third Sector Grant funding is allocated by Area Committees in one round from April 2017.

 

2.    The criteria for grant funding are extended to allow community councils and parent councils to apply.

 

3.    The scoring of grant applications is opened to community participation through a panel of community members making recommendations to Area Committee, for funds distributed from April 2018.

 

4.    Participatory budgeting as a method to distribute grant funding is looked at in future following the pilot participatory budgeting project run with the Argyll and Bute Gaelic Forum, funded by Scottish Government in 2016/17.

 

5.    The Third Sector Grant fund is renamed ‘Supporting Communities Fund’.

 

6.    The Argyll and Bute ‘Supporting Communities Fund’ is not combined with Early Years fund due to the risk this poses to Early Years provision within Argyll and Bute.

 

7.    The Early Years Grant is improved to provide an overview, to members of the relevant Area Committees, on decisions taken on such matters.

 

8.    A recommendation is made to the Integrated Joint Board for Officers to explore the potential to combine the Argyll and Bute Supporting Communities Fund with the Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund run by the Health and Social Care Partnership.

 

9.    That a report is brought back to a future meeting reviewing the impact of the aforementioned changes to the distribution of grants.

 

Moved Councillor Dick Walsh, seconded Councillor Robin Currie.

 

Amendment

 

That the Committee agree –

 

1.    That Area Committees are invited to provide input on the matter of whether Third Sector Grant funding is allocated by Area Committees in one round from April 2017 or allocated in two rounds as is currently done.

 

2.    The criteria for grant funding are extended to allow community councils and parent councils to apply.

 

3.    The scoring of grant applications is opened to community participation through a panel of community members making recommendations to Area Committee, for funds distributed from April 2018.

 

4.    Participatory budgeting as a method to distribute grant funding is looked at in future following the pilot participatory budgeting project run with the Argyll and Bute Gaelic Forum, funded by Scottish Government in 2016/17.

 

5.    The Third Sector Grant fund is renamed ‘Supporting Communities Fund’.

 

6.    The Argyll and Bute ‘Supporting Communities Fund’ is not combined with Early Years fund due to the risk this poses to Early Years provision within Argyll and Bute.

 

7.    The Early Years Grant is improved to provide an overview, to members of the relevant Area Committees, on decisions taken on such matters.

 

8.    A recommendation is made to the Integrated Joint Board for Officers to explore the potential to combine the Argyll and Bute Supporting Communities Fund with the Health and Wellbeing Grant Fund run by the Health and Social Care Partnership.

 

9.    That a report is brought back to a future meeting reviewing the impact of the aforementioned changes to the distribution of grants.

 

Moved Councillor James Robb, seconded Councillor Sandy Taylor.

 

Decision

 

On a show of hands vote the Motion was carried by 8 votes to 3 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated November 2016, submitted)