Agenda Item No. 10

 

THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL

 

CABINET  19 SEPTEMBER 2007

 

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, ICT AND PROPERTY

 

COMMUNITY ACTION SELF HELP (C.A.S.H.) SCHEME 2007/2008

 

 

Purpose of Report

 

1.         To seek the views of Cabinet on the awarding of further CASH grants as above.

 

 

Background

 

2.         The Community Action Self Help Scheme (C.A.S.H.) provides funding to Town and Community Councils to undertake capital schemes of their choice within their own area. This is an important feature of the Council’s aims to work in partnership with Town and Community Councils and to target resources to all communities within the Vale.

 

3.                 Technical assistance from officers is available to Town and Community Councils during the design and implementation of their schemes. The C.A.S.H. scheme continues to be very popular with all concerned.

 

4.            Applications in respect of the current financial year were previously reported to Cabinet on 25 April 2007 (Minute C2995 refers).

 

 

Relevant Issues and Options

 

5.            The report sets out at Appendix “A” (PDF) further applications received this year

 and the grants recommended in respect of each.

 

6.            The schemes Conditions and Criteria is set out at Appendix “B” (PDF) to this

 report. When approving grant applications, Cabinet should ensure that the

relevant grant criteria are being met and the purposes for which the grants are awarded are in accordance with the Council’s priorities.

 

7.             Schemes must be completed within the financial year 2007/2008, are limited to a ceiling of £15,000 for any one Community or Town Council and satisfactory quotations must be obtained. In addition, the Council will need to be satisfied that the Community / Town Council is able to meet all future revenue costs.

 

8.         It has not been possible for the applicants to fully comply with the need for full details and quotations at this stage. Any grants allocated are “in principle only”. Only when all requirements are met will final approval be issued for work to begin on a scheme.

 

9.         Town and Community Councils were asked to prioritise their bids. Schemes

are listed in Appendix A to reflect the prioritisation of the applicants. Some

have chosen not to prioritise their bids and these are indicated accordingly.

 

 

Resource Implications (financial and employment)

 

10.            £70,000 has been included in the 2007/8 capital programme for the CASH grant scheme of which grants amounting to £29,100 have previously been approved this year. The value of grants recommended for approval in this report amount to £7,625.

 

11.      The responsibility for approving the allocations has been delegated to the Director of Finance ICT & Property in consultation with the Cabinet Member.

 

 

Legal Implications (to include Human Rights implications)

 

12.      It is a condition of the C.A.S.H. scheme that the Town or Community Council is responsible for ensuring that works are undertaken in accordance with current health and safety legislation and that sufficient insurance cover is obtained prior to the commencement of works.

 

 

Crime and Disorder Implications

 

13.      There are no Crime and Disorder Implications arising out of this report.

 

 

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language Scheme issues)

 

14.      There are no Equal Opportunities Implications arising out of this report.

 

 

Corporate / Service Objectives (to include Stakeholder Consultation and Voluntary Sector Implications)

 

15.      Efficient, effective and economic arrangements for the payment of grants

to Community Councils will assist them in turn to meet their own

           objectives.

 

 

Policy Framework  and Budget

 

16.      This report is a matter for Executive decision by the Cabinet.

 

 

Consultation

 

17.       No consultation has taken place.

 

 

 

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

           

18.            Corporate Resources.                  

 

 

RECOMMENDATION(S)

 

That further grants be agreed as set out in Appendix “A” to this report.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation (s)

 

Having regard to the budget available and sum requested.

 

Background Papers

 

Community / Town Council’s grant application forms.

 

Council’s approved Capital Programme 2007/2008

 

 

Officers Consulted:

 

Head of Economic Development & Leisure.

 

 

Contact Officer:            Mr AD Williams

                                    Accountant

                                    Dept. of Finance, ICT and Property

                                    Tel: 01446 709250