Community groups to get cashflow help from Council

The lead municipal district officer for the area said the council have put in place a specialist procedure to help cash strapped 2020 community group applicants.

Pauline Moriarty told the monthly meeting that the council fully understands the challenges faced by local groups. Her comments come as February 19 is the closing date for the 2021 application process.

Speaking on the 2021 Community Fund on Tuesday, she revealed that there is now a method to help associations and committees with drawing down their allocations.

“It is acknowledged that some community/ voluntary groups may experience cashflow issues during these challenging times. It is Cork County Council’s policy to support and facilitate such groups insofar as is possible.

“To this end, if an approved Community Fund applicant is experiencing financial difficulties, and if such difficulties have the potential to jeopardise the successful delivery of approved works, the group should make contact with their local Municipal District Officer at the earliest possible opportunity in order to discuss the situation.

“Groups can be assured of Cork County Council’s continued commitment to work with groups to facilitate them as much as possible,” she said.

CASHFLOW ISSUES

Ms Moriarty stressed that this was not in connection to new applicants, but to people who had been awarded grants but were now struggling to meet the normal requirements.

“Specifically, in relation to cashflow matters, Council policy has traditionally been to make payment of grant claims after production of satisfactory receipts which demonstrate that the applicant has incurred the expenditure.

“This approach remains Council policy. However, notwithstanding this, if a group is experiencing cashflow issues and submits satisfactory evidence of same to the council, the council will work with the group.

“The group should contact the Municipal District Officer in advance of works commencing to set out the cashflow issues that it faces, submit documentary evidence of same, and to discuss and agree the timing arrangements for any advance payment of the grant, which may include advance payment of the grant by way of phased instalments.

“Grant payments (or instalment payments) will only be made where agreed works have been completed or part completed, and that the group submits relevant invoices in the applicant’s name associated with the works. The Council will carry out site inspection to ensure that the works have been completed or part-completed,” she explained.

Ms Moriarty told the meeting that the process was ‘an exceptional measure and a support mechanism’ which will expire at the end of 2021.

The Community Fund 2021 opened for applications on January 11 and will close at 4pm on February 19 and requests for funding can be made on the council website.