Decision details

Consideration was given to a proposed 50^th Anniversary Community Grant Scheme as detailed in the report of the Cabinet Member for Community Services and the Chief Executive.

The grant guidelines, criteria and application process were set out in Annexes 1 and 2.

Over recent years the Borough Council had delivered two Community Development Grant Schemes using income provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which had been oversubscribed.  This illustrated a local need for funding of smaller organisations and charities to enable them to deliver projects and support services that helped residents.

At the present time, there was no firm commitment for any future round of UKSP funding for 2025/26 or beyond.  However, the Borough Council had agreed a sum of £87,000 to be allocated to support a one-off 50-year anniversary grant scheme.  It was recommended that £50,000 be allocated to the Anniversary Grant Scheme with a further £37,000 ringfenced to support further community initiatives in 2025/26, potentially including phase 2 of the borough wide Community Enforcement Team pilot.

Cabinet had due regard to the financial and value for money considerations and the legal implications and welcomed the proposal for a one-off grant to coincide with the 50^th anniversary year of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             a 50^th Anniversary Community Grant Scheme be launched with a budget of £50,000 with effect from 2 January 2025;

(2)             the Grant guidelines, criteria and application process, as set out in Annexes 1 and 2 be endorsed; and

(3)             £37,000 be ringfenced to support further community initiatives in 2025/26, including potentially phase 2 of the borough wide Community Enforcement Team Pilot.