Agenda item

Community Focus Grants

Report of the Head of Economic Development

Minutes:

The Head of Economic Development presented the report to Members, highlighting the processes and a summary of the grants awarded. She informed Members that as suggested, groups that were currently applying for grants had been informed of the possibility of being invited to attend a Policy and Development Group meeting.

Councillor D Harrison thanked officers for a good report and he was pleased that the council was helping community organisations.

Councillor T Eynon concurred with Councillor D Harrison and she now had a clear idea of the number of grants awarded as well as the process involved. However she felt that it was not clear what happened after the grant was awarded as there was not a measurable target to complete the process. The Head of Economic Development explained that some organisations were visited by Officers and the Portfolio Holder after a grant was awarded and this information would be included in the report in future.

Councillor N Smith reported that he had seen outcomes of some very successful projects and fully supported them. He commented that he was surprised to discover that a number of Parish Councils were not aware of the scheme and asked officers to make information available. The Stronger and Safer Communities Team Manager reported that his team were currently undertaking work to advertise the grant scheme further. In particular, an officer had been tasked with the marketing and has already managed to obtain a segment on East Midlands Television.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Stronger and Safer Communities Team Manager confirmed that an unsuccessful status within the report related to the application being unsuccessful not the project itself.

The Chairman asked Members if they would like groups to come to a committee meeting to give presentations regarding their success stories. Councillor T Eynon confirmed that she would be happy with additional information accompanied by photographs within the report in future. She would also be interested in accompanying officers to some of the group visits.

With the consent of the Chairman, the Community Services Portfolio Holder addressed the Committee. She confirmed that she did undertake visits to the community groups and there were photographs taken which were used in the press and social media. Councillor N Smith suggested that a collage of the photographs be displayed once a year at a committee meeting, which could also be placed in reception. The Stronger and Safer Communities Team Manager agreed to look into a photograph collage for future reports.

At this point the Chairman stopped the discussion as Councillor A C Saffell was making a political statement which was not appropriate for the meeting.

Councillor G Hoult referred officers to the grant awarded to the Kegworth Plan Group as included within appendix A and queried the figures as she understood that it was a grant for 50 percent match funding. The Head of Economic Development apologised as she believed that was a mistake and would make the amendment.

Councillor N Clarke felt that the grant scheme was brilliant as he was aware that they were a lifeline for the groups. He hoped that long may they continue.