Agenda item

To consider the Grant Allocation Policy (Sports Provision – Major Projects).

RESOLVED that the Grant Allocation Policy (Sports Provision - Major Projects) be approved and adopted

Councillor Pavitt left the meeting at 8.13pm.

Councillor Armstrong introduced the report on the Grant Allocation Policy (Sports Provision – Major Projects). He said Uttlesford had been starved of funding for sports facilities during the past decade  and the Policy would set out how this process would work.

Councillor Oliver, Chair of the Governance, Audit and Performance Committee, said that whilst the Committee had endorsed the Policy for adoption, it had done so subject to a number of specific concerns. He said a number of amendments should be made to improve the Policy; firstly, to remove the requirement that sport grants be fully spent within the same year as they were allocated; secondly, the Policy also stipulated that an organisation could not receive a sports grant if it had received any other grant from the Council, clarity was required as to whether this included grants from the Member Ward Initiative Fund. Thirdly, clarification was required as to whether there were any time restrictions in terms of an organisation applying for grants year on year. He said the Committee had expressed disquiet that this year’s grant appeared to have already been decided as per item 13 on the agenda. He also asked that if policies were brought to the GAP Committee in future, that the relevant Cabinet Member attend the meeting to present the policy.

Councillor Hargreaves thanked Councillor Oliver for his comments. He responded to the point regarding spending the grant within the same year it had been allocated. He said it was common practice to have such conditions within a grants policy but it would be sensible to look at this to make it less “draconian”. In regard to the comment that this year’s grant had already been allocated, he said there had been a longstanding agreement, made in principle by the previous Administration, and much work had been put in by the organisers; without the Council’s support, the project would not have the necessary funding to continue.

Councillor Armstrong said he had been talking to other clubs and organisations across the district, and the process was being opened up to all localities.

Councillor Hargreaves said there was a prohibition regarding granting the same organisation two separate grants.

Councillor Day said it would be conducive to have a universal grants policy that applied to all grant processes across the Council.

Councillor Hargreaves agreed and said the entire process would be looked at.

The Chief Executive advised Cabinet that the final wording be delegated to the Director – Public Services and Councillor Armstrong, in order to pick up the amendments suggested by the GAP Committee. She added that Members were completely unfettered in terms of determining the next item.

Councillor Armstrong proposed; Councillor Day duly seconded. The proposal was carried unanimously.

             RESOLVED that:

i. the Grant Allocation Policy (Sports Provision - Major Projects) be approved and adopted in principle;

ii. the Director of Public Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure, Education and the Arts, be delegated authority to finalise the wording regarding the time limits of the grant as necessary.