2020-05-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                  12 MAY 2020


5                        COMMUNITY DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY GRANTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Community Services Director, Kerri Contini
                                    Community Development Manager, Alison Hamblin
                                    Community Services Department

Index                               ECM / Community Development Grants Scheme

Attachments                         1.   Amended Community Grants Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Community Services Director and the Community Development
Manager to the Services and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 12 May 2020 regarding the
Community Disaster Response and Recovery Grants Program and:

A.                       Approve amendments to the Community Grants Policy, by the addition of a Community
                         Disaster Response and Recovery Grant, as provided at Attachment 1;

B.                       Allocate the remaining $27,000 from the 19/20 Community Grants budget to the Community
                         Disaster Response and Recovery Grant category for the purposes of running a rapid
                         response grant round for community organisations that have immediate essential needs as
                         a result of COVID-19;

C.                       Delegate the Chief Executive Officer to authorise funding payments to the successful
                         applicants; and

D.                       Request the Chief Executive Officer to provide a report on the outcome of the 19/20
                         Community Disaster Response and Recovery Grant round at a future Council meeting.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an overview of the impact of Coronavirus
COVID-19 on the not-for-profit community sector and propose a new community grant category to
provide initial financial assistance to those organisations that have immediate, essential needs as
a result of COVID-19.

1.                       Background

The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption to the Noosa community
since the first cases were recorded in Queensland in early February 2020. It has impacted on all
sectors including government, commercial and not-for-profit, in being able to function effectively
and provide services to residents and visitors.

The effect on approximately 300 not-for-profit community organisations in Noosa has been
extensive and wide-ranging, resulting in immediate financial, operational and human resource
impacts. Most significantly, as many groups support the social fabric of our society, the current
shutdowns have the potential to cause damaging social consequences for our community now and
into the future, unless key organisations can improve their ability to function.


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