2016-02-08 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                              8 FEBRUARY 2016


REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE


1                        COMMUNITY GRANTS POLICY 2016/17
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Community Development Coordinator, Alison Hamblin
                                    Community Services Department

Index                               ECM/Subject/Community Grants

Attachments                         1.   Community Grants Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Community Development Coordinator to the General
Committee Meeting dated 8 February 2016 and
A.                       Adopt the updated Community Grants Policy provided at Attachment 1 to the report;
B.                       Allocate unspent water and sewerage funds from 2015/2016 to pay outstanding water bills
                         from previous years and implement recommendations from recent hydrology reports
                         undertaken for eligible not for profit community organisations; and
C.                       Repeal the current Festive Season Event Grants Policy.


REPORT
Council’s power to issue grants is governed by the Local Government Act 2009 and the Local
Government Regulation 2012. The Community Grants Policy ensures alignment with this
legislation.

In the last quarter of 2015 Council officers undertook a strategic review of the administration of
Noosa Council’s Community Grants program. The objective was to improve the efficiency,
effectiveness, accountability and transparency of the Community Grants program.

The review found that generally the grants program was well received and is a strategic
investment tool assisting the community to meet and respond to Council’s priorities and vision.

The review supported the current strategies of providing funding on a needs basis and Council
officers working to encourage and assist community organisations to identify external funding
where available, rather than simply relying on Council funding.

It identified some administrative issues and lack of clarity regarding the eligibility for Operational
Grant funding and explored options with regard to supporting Community Organisations through
the provision of water rebates and Council covering various types of insurance through its own
policies.

Updated Community Grants Policy

As a result of the 2015 Community Grants review the following changes are proposed to the
current Community Grants Policy:


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