Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive seeking approval for the establishment and operational framework of the new Maldon District Council (MDC) Community Grant Scheme, including its funding priorities, tiered structure, eligibility criteria and assessment methodology.

The report reminded Members of the agreement in April 2025 that the proposed projects be delivered through the Maldon District’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation with 100% match funding provided from the Council’s reserves. This included the delivery of a Community Grant Scheme.

A Community Grant Scheme aimed to streamline and enhance the Council’s ability to provide financial assistance to a broad range of local organisations and the proposed “Where Quality of Life Matters Grant Scheme” had been designed to fund local initiatives that directly contributed to the four resident, community and business focused Corporate Plan Priorities. The report provided further detail regarding the Scheme and Appendix 1 set out the proposed applicant guidance, including funding priorities, eligibility criteria, what could and couldn’t be supported, tiered grant values, the application process and deadlines. Appendix 2 set out the tiered scoring matrices which would form the robust and transparent assessment process.

An addendum circulated prior to the meeting provided updates to the report and Appendices following feedback from Members.

The Leader of the Council presented the report before the Lead Specialist Prosperity took Members through a detailed presentation which set out the types of projects that could be taken forward, the application window, the application type, funding levels, scoring matrices and proposed scoring panel composition.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

Councillor W Stamp advised that she didn’t agree with the proposal to fund businesses as the Council supported them in other ways. She referred to the work she had been involved with to section S106 funding for a project in Burnham-on-Crouch and felt that Community Grant Fund monies should be used by Parish / Town Councils and Community Groups.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor Stamp requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded.

The Chief Executive gave reassurance on the format of the proposed approvals process and that this would ensure independence and fairness in governance. He advised that Officers hoped Ward Members would encourage community groups to bid for funding.

A lengthy debate ensued and in response to a number of concerns and queries raised, the following information was provided by Officers:

·                The Scheme had been based on the UKSPF but had been changed to encourage communities to bid for the grants first.

·                The small grant didn’t relate to the size of an organisation, it was about the size of the bid. There was no limit in terms of bids.

·                It was hoped that the scheme would give opportunity to work with villages, towns etc. and to get them to come forward with bids for these grants.

·                The framework and governance process for which approval was sought included criteria for the scoring mechanism which would provide reassurance that all bids were scored fairly and efficiently.

·                It was hoped that Ward Members would support projects in their area, although it was appreciated that there may be occasional conflicts, and Officers highlighted the point at which Ward Members were asked for their support.

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the Chairperson put the recommendations.

Councillor M G Bassenger suggested that consideration be given to four Members being on the Assurance Panel (detailed within Appendix 2 to the report). Speaking in support of this Councillor Stamp proposed that Councillors A Fittock and P L Spenceley be two of the members that sat of the board to finalise the applications. This proposal was duly seconded.

The Chairperson then moved an amendment to the recommendation, to update Appendix 2 to include four Members of the Council on the Assurance Panel. This was duly seconded.

The Chairperson then put the amendment to vote, and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, S J Burwood, S Dodsley, J Driver, A Fittock, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, K M H Lagan, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, M G Neall, R H Siddall, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, W Stamp, E L Stephens, J C Stilts, N J Swindle, M E Thompson and L L Wiffen.

Against the recommendation: There were none.

Abstention: There were none.

The Chairperson advised that the amendment was therefore agreed.

At this point Councillor Stamp withdrew her request for a recorded vote on the substantive motion.

The Chairperson then put the substantive motion to approve the Grant Scheme, accompanying applicant guidance (Appendix 1) and the amended tired scoring matrix (Appendix 2). This was duly agreed.

The Chairperson thanked the Lead Specialist Prosperity for her excellent hard work and speed of which things were pulled together. He then called for nominations of the four Members to sit on the Assurance Panel.

Councillor Stamp nominated Councillor A Fittock and P L Spenceley. Councillor J C Stilts nominated Councillor L J Hawyood and Councillor R H Siddall nominated Councillor M E Thompson. These nominations were duly seconded. The Chairperson put them to the Council, and they were agreed.

RESOLVED that the establishment of the "Where Quality of Life Matters Grant Scheme" be approved, as detailed in the report, the accompanying Applicant Guidance (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) and the tiered scoring matrix (Appendix 2 to the report updated to include Councillors A Fittock, L J Haywood, P L Spenceley and M E Thompson on the Assurance Panel).