Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member for Policy and Resources Item 1

18 June 2008

Requests for Financial Assistance

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: Louise Pickford - 01962 847355; [email protected]

1. Summary

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

Recommendations:

      a) That the grant of £500 awarded towards the RAF Odiham Heroes Homecoming Parade on 14 June 2008 be noted.

      b) That one-off grants totalling £7,570 be made to voluntary organisations and other bodies as specified in the attached schedule to this report.

      c) That a one-off grant of £150 be awarded to Stuart Bartlett of Brockenhurst who is taking part in a biodiversity conservation expedition in Indonesia.

2. Budget Position

2.1 The balance available for allocation after the grants approved at the last decision day and previous commitments given is £219,011.

2.2 Since the last meeting, a decision was made on 10 June 2008 for a grant of £500 to be awarded towards the RAF Odiham Heroes Homecoming Parade on 14 June. This now leaves the balance at £218,511.

3. Details of Requests

3.1 The Schedule of items gives details of 4 applications which, if agreed in the amounts recommended, would total £7,570 and is attached as Appendix 2 to this report. A copy of the guidelines used for allocating these grants is included as Appendix 1.

3.2 A request has also been received from Stuart Bartlett of Brockenhurst who is taking part in a seven-week biodiversity conservation expedition in Indonesia with Operation Wallacea during June/July. The cost of the project is £3,500 and Stuart is requesting a grant of £150 from the County Council.

4. Conclusion

4.1 The awarding of these grants would support all three aims of the County Council's Corporate Priorities by making Hampshire safer and more secure for all, Maximising well-being and Enhancing our quality of place.

LINK(S) TO CORPORATE PRIORITIES

Yes

No

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

Maximising well-being

Enhancing our quality of place

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

Application forms Chief Executive's Department

Appendix 1

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 service department (e.g. Adult Services, Children's Services, Recreation & Heritage, Environment, etc) for consideration.

(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. Grants will not be awarded for university students undertaking electives as part of their degree.

(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. Individual requests will not be considered.

(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 has been made.