Contact: Louise Pickford - Ext: 7355; e-mail: [email protected]

1. Introductory

1.1 This report shows details of grant requests from voluntary organisations and other bodies which are to be considered from the Policy and Resources grants budget.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That grants totalling £7,250 be made to voluntary organisations and other bodies as specified in the report.

3. Budget Position

3.1 Following the last meeting on 1 March 2007, the Policy and Resources Grants budget was underspent by £13,181.

3.2 The budget provision for 2007/08 is £355,500. Taking into account the carry forward of 50% of the above underspend, £28,724 which has been committed at previous meetings (details shown in attached Appendix 1), a sum of £1,500 awarded to the New Forest Volunteer Bureau at the last meeting and a sum of £95,000 towards the Field Studies Centres agreed by Cabinet at its February meeting, the sum available for allocation at today's meeting is £236,866.

4. Details of Requests

4.1 The Schedule of items gives details of 8 applications which, if agreed in the amounts recommended, would total £7,250, and is attached as Appendix 3 to this report. A copy of the guidelines used for allocating these grants is included as Appendix 2.

5. Conclusion

5.1 That grants be awarded in the sums shown to those organisations whose details are in the attached schedule.

OR

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:

Published works.

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

5dR80104

Appendix 2

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR POLICY AND RESOURCES

GUIDELINES FOR ALLOCATION OF GRANTS

TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER BODIES

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) As a general rule, grants will only be awarded to churches to support accessibility issues in line with the County Council's policy regarding the Disability Discrimination Act.

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

(viii) 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.

(ix) Requests may be considered from young people in Hampshire aged between 16 and 25 years undertaking trips for educational/personal development purposes.

(x) 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.

(xi) 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.

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

(xiii) 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 % term(s) and to what extent charges are made.

(xiv) As a general rule, grants will be held up to a maximum of three years after the award was made.