Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling Services presented a report which detailed proposals for a new Community Grants Scheme.

Cabinet was informed that the Council would receive £12,000 in New Home Bonus (NHB) funding that could be allocated to a community grants scheme.  A decision had been taken by Members, when setting the budget in February 2021, to allocate an additional £68,000 to this figure in order to create a new Community Grants Scheme.

The new Community Grants Scheme would be slightly different to the previous NHB funding scheme.  The report detailed how the scheme would work, including the application process.  A timeline for the scheme had also been provided for Members’ consideration.

During consideration of this item Members discussed the potential, through this grants scheme, to support community groups that had been negatively impacted by the Covid-9 pandemic.  Members suggested that the impact of Covid-19 should be taken into account in respect of the eligibility criteria for grant funding.

RESOLVED that delegated authority be given to the Head of Finance and Customer Service following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources in respect of the detail of the Community Grants Scheme, which will be based on the principles of the New Homes Bonus Community Grants Scheme.