Council cap on funding

Grants for community groups in a Paisley district are to be capped at £2,000, a council committee has decided, writes Steph Brawn, Local Democracy Reporter.

The limit on awards from Renfrewshire Council’s Gleniffer Local Partnership ( LP) will be chopped by £8,000 in a bid to offer financial help to more organisations that need it.

Concerns had been raised about applications from one group for large grants – up to a maximum of £10,000 – as well as multiple cash requests from a single organisation which together added up to a high pay-out.

Elected members also discussed at a workshop their worries about applications for day-to-day finances such as employment costs, food and drink, and bus trips.

It was highlighted some grants which were awarded last year have still not been spent, according to council papers.

Other concerns which were brought up included considering applications which did not meet any of Gleniffer LP’s priorities and multi- area applications, where a group had applied to more than one LP for funding towards the same project.

The cap has not yet been introduced by other LPs, as each make their own calls on how much cash should be given out to groups and every committee has different priorities for their area.

While the Gleniffer LP decided it must consider every application regardless of eligibility, members resolved to cap grants at £2,000 and decided to only permit multiple applications if each relates to a different project.

Groups will now not be allowed to apply for cash to cover employment costs.

Councils papers state: “This would provide sufficient flexibility within the budget to offer awards to as many local groups as possible.

“Applicants requesting a grant of more than £ 2,000 will be advised to review or amend their application as soon as possible and prior to its consideration at the next Gleniffer Local Partnership meeting.

“In principle, funding will not be provided to meet any element of employment costs.”