Hampshire County Council

Havant Area Committee

29 September 2004

Financial Assistance for Community Projects

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: David Hinxman (01962) 847339

E-mail: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 The County Council has earmarked £100,000 in this financial year to support
the Area Committee in its work for the Havant community. It is anticipated

that some of this allocation will be disbursed by the Committee by way of grants to give financial support to local community projects. As a first step, the following guidelines have been drafted for consideration by the Committee.

1.2 The guidelines reflect very closely the framework within which the Leader of the Council considers applications received for assistance from his budget. They meet the requirement for a clear audit trail. All applications received would be referred to the appropriate County Council department for comments so that, when applications are considered, the officers' professional advice is taken into account.

2. Determination of Applications - Procedural Arrangements

2.1 The existing tried and tested procedures in place to support the Leader's grants will be used to progress applications. It will be important, however, that applications are dealt with promptly and in order to ensure that this can be achieved, it is suggested that the County Council be asked to agree that the Chairman of the Committee, after consultation with all the Members of the Area Committee, be authorised to approve grants up to a value of £5,000. Applications for grants of over £5,000 would be brought to the Committee itself for decision. A summary of the decisions made and their impact on the committee's allocation, would be brought to the following meeting by way of public record, the applications themselves being "background papers" and, therefore open to public inspection on request.

RECOMMENDATION:

i) That the guidelines in relation to applications for financial assistance
for community projects be endorsed;


ii) That the County Council be recommended to authorise the Chairman
of the Havant Area Committee to approve grants of up to £5,000 after
consultation with all the members of the Area Committee in every
case.

DRAFT

Havant Area Committee - Applications for Financial Assistance - Guidelines

Hampshire County Council's Area Committee for Havant has a small fund to assist Havant based community projects. Assistance will be considered only in response to direct applications to Havant County Councillors (listed below) or the County Council's Chief Executive at The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UJ from the individual or organisation seeking assistance. These criteria will apply.

Criteria

· The project must support the aims and objectives of the Local Community Strategy for Havant or the County Council's Cabinet priorities which, within the remit of the Havant Area Committee are:

o Crime, Youth and Deprivation

o Education and Skills Development

o Older People

· The project must be of significant benefit to the Havant Community, namely for the benefit of communities in one or more of the following County Electoral Divisions which, together, cover the area of the Borough of Havant:

· The project must be a `not for profit' activity

· Where possible the project should encourage self-help within organisations; grants would normally be a percentage of the sum required to complete the project.

· Preference will be given to applications for specific projects over applications for support towards `general running costs' of organisations or projects with on-going revenue implications such as salaries. Any applications for revenue support must state how the on-going costs will be met.

· Grants will, therefore, normally be `one-off'.




· Conditions may be attached to any grant if considered appropriate, eg availability of a facility/equipment for community use when not in use by the owning organisation. It is normal practice if a grant exceeds £2000 that you will be required to provide a written statement confirming the use to which it was put. It is a requirement that whenever a grant is made your organisation uses the County Council's logotype in publicity material where appropriate. These can be found on the County Council's website at www.hants.gov.uk/logos

· All applications for financial assistance must say whether funds are also being sought from and/or Have been obtained from other sources including other parts of the County Council

· 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 percentage terms and to what extent charges are made.

Notes:

Only in exceptional circumstances will grants be made in respect of applications from:

· The Borough Council as it is a precepting body)

· Schools (exceptions might include special schools)

· Organisations already assisted centrally with a sum from Hampshire County Council

· Bodies requesting funds for onward distribution to charities eg mayoral appeals, carnivals, fetes

· Organisations or individuals already funded or part funded by existing Hampshire County Council Services

Applications will not be considered for projects which are

· Supporting the funding of wages

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