COMMUNITY GRANTS POLICY - REVISED · Report

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                       20 JANUARY 2025


distributed to eligible community organisations. The grant program aligns with Council's Corporate
Plan 2023–2028, the Noosa Social Strategy 2015, and supporting strategies such as the Sport and
Active Recreation Plan and the Cultural Plan. These initiatives aim to address human social needs,
strengthen community connections and build resilience.

The Grants Program is administered by the Community Development team under a range of policies,
guidelines and procedures. The guiding policy document for the program is the Community Grants
Policy which was last reviewed by Council in May 2020.

2. Community Grants Program Review
In 2023, Council initiated a review of key policies and practices that support Noosa’s community
organisations, including the Community Grants Program and the Community Land Tenure Policy.
The Grants Program review evaluated governance, practices, purpose and impact and is aimed to
ensure that Council continues to effectively address community needs while delivering on its
strategies, policies and desired outcomes. The review was led by the Community Development team
and included support by an external contractor. It incorporated stakeholder consultation, an
assessment of other local government funding programs and consideration of resources which
included the 0.6 part-time Grants Administrator and an annual budget allocation of approximately $1
million.

The review focused on several key areas:
1. Governance: Evaluating the application of best practices, relevant legislation, and regulations to
   ensure the Community Grants Policy, program structure, and internal processes are current,
   effective at meeting the aims of the program and reduce unnecessary complexity.
2. Community Effectiveness: Identifying ways to increase community engagement with the
   program, addressing the challenges organisations face when applying for grants, and ensuring
   the program delivers strong outcomes and a return on investment.
3. Efficient Resource Allocation: Exploring the most efficient use of limited resources.
4. Maximising Funding: Ensuring that the Community Grants Policy and Program complements,
   rather than duplicates, other ongoing internal and external funding sources, such as Council's
   other grant programs, Tourism Noosa's grant funding, Gambling Community Benefit Fund, and
   relevant State Government funding.
The review did not cover changes to the overall budget allocation for the grants program or the
operational management of external funding sources. It also did not explore non-grant funding
mechanisms such as loans or other financial assistance.

The review involved engagement with both internal and external stakeholders and was benchmarked
against best practices and community grants policies from other councils. This helped to identify
areas for improvement and ensure the updated program aligns with community needs and Council’s
strategic objectives. Based on the findings, amendments to the Community Grants Policy and
structure were made, reflecting the changes that were reviewed and recommended to enhance
efficiency, equity and transparency.

3. Review Outcomes
The review found that the Community Grants Program is highly regarded by local not-for-profit
organisations. The program received generally positive feedback from both internal and external
stakeholders, particularly regarding the support provided by Council officers. Many community
organisations highlighted that the grants were essential for delivering projects and initiatives that
might not have been feasible without Council funding. These projects strengthened local networks,
promoted cultural and social inclusion, and delivered tangible benefits, such as improved community
facilities and increased accessibility. The review also recognised the program's role in encouraging
collaboration, as numerous grant recipients partnered with other organisations to maximise impact
and share resources.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                        20 JANUARY 2025



Additionally, the streamlined application process, introduced during recent program minor reviews,
was positively received by applicants. Feedback indicated that the simplified format reduced
administrative barriers and made the program more accessible to smaller community groups with
limited resources. This helped broaden the diversity of projects and applicants, aligning the grants
with Council’s overarching equity objectives.

The review also identified some areas for improvement. It found that the Community Grants Program
is not fully aligned with the Council’s current priorities, due to its reliance on the outdated Social
Strategy. Updating this strategy will ensure the program remains relevant and responsive to
emerging community needs.

There was also strong demand for ‘always open’ quick response grants to cater for emerging
opportunities and emergencies, along with strengthening the collaborative approach to driving
further dollars into Noosa community groups.

There was also a clear desire to reduce red tape. Some community organisations found the
application process overly difficult and expressed a preference for more streamlined procedures.
Feedback suggested the use of digital tools to simplify submissions, improve communication and
automate routine tasks. In addition, clearer guidelines, user-friendly templates, and more tailored
workshops could help applicants overcome common challenges and encourage wider participation.

4. Revised Community Grants Policy
One of the key recommendations of the Grants Program review was to revise and update the
Community Grants Policy which helps govern the administration of the Community Grants Program.

The revised Community Grants Policy was developed through a consultative process to ensure it
supports current community needs and aligns with Council priorities and procedures. The process
included a thorough review of feedback from stakeholders, including grant applicants, community
organisations and Council staff. Workshops and focus groups were conducted to gather diverse
perspectives, while benchmarking against best practices from other councils helped identify
opportunities for improvement. Input from these engagements informed the drafting of a policy that
prioritises transparency, equity and accessibility.

The revised policy provides a framework to guide the administration of the Community Grants
Program, ensuring that grants:
•   Support Council in achieving its strategic goals and key objectives; and
•   Align with the Local Government Act 2009 and Local Government Regulation 2012, which
    require that community grants serve a purpose in the public interest.
This policy is designed to be read alongside the supporting guidelines for each individual funding
programs and does not apply to sponsorships, donations, advertising, naming rights or service-level
agreements.

The revised policy contains two main types of changes - program and procedural changes.

Grant Program Changes
Signature Community Events: The Festive Season and Signature Events programs will be combined
into a single program.
Individual Sports Development Grants: The review proposes the introduction of individual Sports
Development Grants to assist Noosa residents who are performing, competing or coaching at
recognised national or international competitions and events.
Quick Response Grants: The ability to provide quick response grants will be made available for both
community grants and RADF grants, similar to the way that Economic Development grants are
offered.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                       20 JANUARY 2025



Procedural Changes
Flexibility: The policy is less prescriptive, allowing updates to guidelines to address emerging
community needs and changing procedural requirements.
Smaller Grants: Grants under $2,500 that are supported by the moderation panel will now be
approved by a delegated officer instead of coming to Council for endorsement. This will enable quick
response grants for emergent situations to be offered.
Compliance: The policy incorporates new Code of Conduct and Human Rights statements.
Legislation: Updates have been made to reflect the most current relevant documents and legislation.
Wording: Consolidation and minor word changes to the policy to maintain consistency with other
Council grant policies.
These updates aim to make the grants process more accessible, responsive, and aligned with
community and strategic needs, while building strong partnerships and building capacity across
Noosa.


Link to Corporate Plan

Theme No. 2 - Liveability
Liveability encompasses housing, facilities and services, transport, health and wellbeing to enable
an inclusive, connected and vibrant community.

Theme No. 3 - Prosperity
Focus areas include economic development, local business, innovation, arts and culture, waste and
a circular economy.

Theme No. 4 - Future
This theme is focused on our future, strengthening our relationship with First Nations peoples and to
ensure our community is prepared and resilient to change. A focus on youth, climate resilience and
adaptation, sense of place and destination management.

Theme No. 5 - Excellence
This theme focuses on customer experience, financial sustainability, innovation and technology,
levels of service, governance, our employees and volunteers, funding streams and asset
management practices.


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes 21 May 2020
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.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                       20 JANUARY 2025



Finance
Council determines the total allocation of funds to the Community Grants Program through its annual
budget process. The FY24/25 community grants budget is $978,496. Each year this budget is
generally raised by CPI rate. The CPI rate that is usually applied to the community grants budget is
the September All Groups Brisbane CPI rate.

To incorporate the Individual Sports Development Grants within the new policy framework, an initial
increase of $5,000 per annum to the overall Community Grants budget will be required as part of the
2025/26 budget process. This adjustment is necessary to ensure adequate support and facilitation
of this additional grant stream.

Risk & Opportunities
Opportunities:
Increased Public Trust: Transparent and equitable policy revisions can build greater trust and
credibility with community stakeholders.
Stronger Collaboration: Opportunities to expand partnerships with external funding providers and
community groups may arise, leading to more innovative and impactful projects.
Encouragement of New Applicants: Simplifying the application process or introducing clearer
guidelines could encourage participation from groups that have not previously applied.
Flexibility: The new policy framework for adapting to emerging community needs or addressing gaps
in service delivery

Risks:
Reduced Engagement/Negative feedback: If the amended policy is not well-communicated in a
positive way, community groups might disengage, leading to a decrease in applications or
collaboration.

Human Rights
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
In developing this Report, the subject matter has been considered in accordance with the
requirements of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. It is considered that the subject matter
does not conflict with any human rights and supports a human rights approach to decision making
by Council. Council representatives will endeavour to act and make decisions under this report in a
manner that is compatible with human rights. This report should be read in conjunction with
Council’s Human Rights Policy.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                              20 JANUARY 2025


Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:

     Office of the CEO, Mayor &               Community Services               Corporate Services
             Councillors
 x    Mayor & Councillors               x   Director                        Director
 x    Chief Executive Officer           x   Community Development       x   Financial Services
      Executive Officers                x   Sport & Active Lifestyles       Fleet
      Community Engagement              x   Arts & Culture              x   Revenue Services
      People & Culture                  x   Community Connection            ICT
 x    Governance                        x   Customer Experience             Commercial Property
     Strategy & Environment &               Development & Regulation        Infrastructure Services
     Sustainable Development
      Director                              Director                        Director
      Strategic Land Use Planning           Development Assessment          Infrastructure Planning, Design
                                                                            and Delivery
 x    Economic Development          &       Local Laws                      Civil and Asset operations
      Destination Management
 x    Environmental Services                Environmental Health            Asset Management
      Innovation & Digital Hub              Building & Plumbing             Building & Facilities
                                        x   Property / Permits              Disaster Management
                                                                            Waste