Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Resources
Presented by the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder

The report was presented by the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder.

Comments from Corporate Scrutiny Committee on the report were considered and acknowledged in turn. Comments 1, and 6 -8 were noted by the Committee. For Comment 2 (C2), the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder confirmed that a funding cap was to ensure fair distribution of funding across the district and there would be renewal and funding enhancements in the future. He also emphasised, in response to C3, that funding decisions would be fair and the scheme had been benchmarked against other Councils’. In response to C4, the Strategic Director of Resources explained to Cabinet that it is unusual for the publication of detailed scoring to occur due to confidentiality and data protection considerations and that the approach to C4 would be looked at in more detail. In response to C5, the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder assured that the scoring criteria framework had been reviewed to remove any possible biases or unintentional advantages towards larger, established organisations.

Members commented in favour of the scheme. The Strategic Director of Resources, the Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder and opposition group were thanked for working ‘so assiduously’ through a quite challenging agenda. The Strategic Director of Resources and Finance and Corporate Portfolio Holder were commended for their robust defence of the scheme and reassurance that the process was honest, open and transparent.

A member expressed that the scheme was a ‘golden opportunity’ to support and champion projects that could have a lasting, positive impact on the district. They urged community groups and service providers with potential, difference-making projects to apply once the scheme was available.

It was moved by Councillor K Merrie, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1) The details of the Legacy Grant process for applications as shown at appendix one was approved and any comments made by the Corporate

Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 19 March 2026 were considered.

2. The details of the closed Churchyards/Cemeteries grant scheme

shown at appendix four was approved and any comments made by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 19 March 2026 were considered.

Reason for decision: To ensure that the grant scheme has the appropriate governance and transparency arrangements.