Contact: Louise Pickford - Ext 7355

1. Financial Position

1.1. Following the last meeting of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources held on 14 February 2002, the unallocated sum in the budget was £7,786.

1.2. A sum of £2,000 has been returned from the New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust in respect of the publication of a new edition of Mr. Colin Tubb's book on the New Forest, for which the money has already been raised. As a result the amount available for allocation is £9,786.

1.3. The Schedule of attached items gives details of 16 applications which, if
agreed in the amounts recommended, would total £7,650 in this financial year and £18,000 in the 2002/03 financial year.

1.4 A copy of the guidelines for allocations of grants by the Executive Member for
Policy and Resources is attached as an appendix to this report.

2. Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils

2.1. At the last meeting, a basic grant of £62,191 and a training grant of £4,100 for 2002/03 were greed, an increase of 2.5% on the equivalent 2001/02 grants. Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (HAPTC) had also asked the County Council to consider making a further grant of £9,500 for 2002/03 only in support of the Quality Parish initiative. Consideration of this request was deferred awaiting further information.

2.2. The Quality Parish initiative stems from the proposals in the Rural White paper to allow local town and parish councils to apply for Quality status, enabling them to take on a stronger role in their local communities. The purpose of HAPTC's grant request is to finance consultancy, and training resources designed to develop the capacity of parish and town councils to apply for Quality status including for smaller parish councils encouraging the establishment of consortia. The aim is to hold a series of individual workshops with parish and town councils followed by a countywide conference.

2.3. HAPTC have confirmed that there is no Government funding available to support this initiative and that if they sought to cover the cost by raising the affiliation fees that parish and town councils pay, that there would be a danger that some councils would withdraw from membership.

2.4. The County Council did make a one-off grant to HAPTC in 2001/02, of £6,000 towards secretariat costs and it is proposed that an equivalent grant be made in 2002/03 to support the Quality Parish Initiative.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. That the financial position be noted.

2. That grants totalling £7,650 be made to voluntary organisations and
other bodies in this financial year and £12,000 in the 2002/03 financial year.

3. That a grant of £6,000 be made in 2002/03 to Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils towards the Quality Parish Initiative.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excluded:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Letters from organisations which Chief Executive's Department

Applied for financial assistance

5dR230202

Appendix

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR POLICY AND RESOURCES

GUIDELINES FOR ALLOCATION OF GRANTS

TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, ETC.

These notes should be regarded as guidelines and not prescriptive rules.

(i) Assistance will be considered only in response to direct applications from the individual or organisation seeking assistance.

(ii) Where appropriate, applications will be referred to the relevant Committee (e.g. Social Services, Recreation & Heritage, Education, etc).

(iii) Grants will normally be "one off" and not recurring.

(iv) Preference will be given to applications for specific projects rather than "general running costs" of organisations or projects with on-going revenue implications. Any applications for the latter must state how the on-going costs will be met.

(v) Only in exceptional circumstances will grants be made in respect of applications from the following:-

· District or Parish Councils (precepting bodies)


· Government Institutions (e.g. NHS)


· Schools (exceptions might include special schools)


· Overseas and out of County organisations which have no direct Hampshire involvement


· Branches or organisations assisted centrally with a sum from the County Council (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureaux)


· Bodies requesting funds for onward distribution to charities e.g. mayoral appeals, carnivals, fetes, etc.

(vi) Assistance will be considered for organisations based in Portsmouth or Southampton only insofar as benefits to the wider County result.

(vii) Where possible self-help within organisations should be encouraged and to this end, grants should normally be a percentage of the sum required to complete the project.

(viii) Requests may be considered from individuals undertaking grips for vocational/educational purposes.

(ix) Requests may be considered from County wide groups (e.g. Guides, Scouts, Hampshire County Youth Orchestra) for specific trips, e.g. for an international jamboree or cultural tour.

(x) Conditions may be attached to any grant if considered appropriate, e.g. availability of minibuses for community use when not in use by the owning organisation.

(xi) As a general rule, grants in excess of £5,000 will not be awarded.

(xii) Where financial support is sought towards a facility, which is used by others, such as a hall or minibus, details should be given of the extent of that use (in % terms)s and to what extent charges are made.