Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling Services, as Chairman of the Community Grants Panel, presented a report and recommendations in respect of the Council’s Community Grant Scheme.

Cabinet was informed that the Community Grants Panel had considered a number of applications and had made recommendations regarding the funding that should be awarded to certain groups. 

During consideration of this item, Members were advised that following on from the Panel meetings, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling had been made aware that some questions had been raised outside the meeting about the award of funding to the “To Catch a Thief” initiative in Rubery.  The police had raised concerns that this initiative could lead to vulnerable people being locked in an old telephone box.  In this context, an addition recommendation was made that Cabinet should delegate authority to the Head of Finance and Community Services, following consultation with the Chairman of the Community Grants Panel, to further consider and resolve on the grant funding for this project.

RESOLVED that

1)            The grants, as detailed in the Summary of the Community Grants Panel Recommendations, be agreed with the exception of the proposed grant for “To Catch a Thief” in Rubery;

2)            Delegated authority be granted to the Head of Finance and Community Services, following consultation with the Chairman of the Community Grants Panel, to determine the outcome of the award for the “To Catch a Thief” project; and

3)            Should the scheme continue into 2022/23 then a full review of the process be carried out prior to the commencement in future years.

(Prior to consideration of this item Councillors K May and M. Thompson declared an other disclosable interest in the report as they had both supported applications for funding in the Community Grants Scheme from community groups based in their wards.  For this reason they did not participate in the debate on this item nor vote thereon.)