Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To provide an update on the Community Development Grants Programme funding allocation based on the interim financial contract arrangements with the Department for Communities.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        Note the limited offer of Community Support Grant income from DfC and agree to;

                                                    i.     extend existing grant contracts to 30 June 2017 to organisations in receipt of Generalist Advice, Capacity and Community Building Revenue grants;

                                                  ii.     extend existing contracts to non-grant support organisations to 30 June 2017; and

                                                 iii.     progress small grants contracts for Summer scheme and project grants.

            A further report will be presented to Committee when we receive information from DfC regarding future allocation of funding.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Overview

            In the absence of the Budget Act, the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Finance has released interim funding.  Council has received its Letter of Offer from the Department for Communities noting an allocation of £351,000 to cover the period 01 April to 30 June 2017.  This inhibits Council from offering 12month contracts to organisations and may impact on the implementation of the Small Grants element of our grants programme.

3.2       Council has agreed a budget of £3,061,979.21 towards the delivery of the Community Development Grants Programme 2017/18.  The budget is made up from the following sources of funding;

-       £1,404,000 from the Department for Communities under the Community Support Programme,

-       £1,657,979.20 from Council

3.3       The Community Development Grants Programme contains the following grant Categories:

-       Generalist Advice

-       Capacity Support

-       Community Buildings Revenue

-       Small Grants (inc Summer Scheme and Community Development Project Grants)

3.4       The Revenue budget also covers our non grant support for the sector via current financial support arrangements with organisations who deliver services on our behalf across the city in respect of;

-       Independently managed community centres

-       Anchor Tenants and

-       Service Level Agreement with Play Resource Warehouse

3.5       In February 2017, committee agreed that officers would advise Community Development Grant supported organisations that funding contracts will be offered pending Council’s receipt of funding from DfC.

3.6       Department for Communities Funding Allocation

            Members will be aware that in the absence of a Budget Act, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance will use powers assigned to him under Section 59 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to release cash to departments on an interim basis and until such times as a Budget is agreed by Ministers and Budget legislation is put in place.

3.7       Council received its Letter of Offer (LOO) towards the Community Support Programme from the Department for Communities on 30 March 2017.  The LOO covers the limited 3 month period from the 01 April to 30 June 2017:  an allocation of £351,000.   This is an emergency response and when a budget is set by Ministers, further funding decisions will then be made.  While this is temporary fix, it is critical to sustaining organisations and services.

3.8       Key Issues

                                       i.        It is normal practice for Council to offer annual funding contracts to recipients of the larger grants and those organisations that receive non-grant support.  The interim CSP grant income will limit grant extension to the same 3 month period. These organisations rely on Council’s funding to deliver and maintain essential services.

                                      ii.        Council is due to make awards under summers scheme and project grants.  Given the seasonal nature of projects, any delay in payment of these grants will have a detrimental impact on the provision of summer schemes throughout the city and on the delivery of programmes by community organisations.      

3.9       Financial & Resource Implications

            The following is an estimated based on a 3 month allocation to;

-       Generalist Advice:        £232,941.38

-       Capacity Building:       £176,456.05

-       Revenue:                       £217,878.36

-       Non Grant Support:        £  80,296.75

Full allocation:

Summer Scheme:               £177,529.00

Project Grants:                      £54,160.00

3.10     Equality or Good Relations Implications

            There are no equality or good relations implications to this report.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations as set out within the report.