ITEM CA6
CABINET– 19 FEBRUARY 2008
STRATEGIC POLICY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SMALL GRANTS FUND
Report by Head of Sustainable Development
Introduction and Background
1. On 23 April 2005, the then Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Executive resolved to:
Authorise the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Sustainable Development:
(1) To finalise a procedure and criteria for the allocation of economic development grants, based on the principles outlined in the report;
(2) To approve individual grants in accordance with the finally agreed procedure and criteria.
2. There is now a need to review the grant fund and scope to improve the processes. The overall aims of the grant fund remain the same with the additions of strengthening what it can also help deliver for the environment and rural programme:
· assist decision-making by providing a rationale and context; · ensure that the grants are used to deliver OCC economic development objectives as well as environment and rural objectives; · ensure grants given to organisations represent value for money; · improve the visibility and profile of the OCC economic development and rural and environment programme; and · assess and manage the risks associated with making grants to third parties.
The Current Economic Development Small Grant Fund & Strategy
3. The grant fund (2007-08 budget allocations are attached at Annex 1 (download as .doc file)) currently focuses on projects that fall within the three key areas of:
(a) Supporting thriving businesses and support organizations: projects which aim to assist businesses, through networking, research, lobbying, promoting Oxfordshire as a good business location.
(b) Supporting thriving communities which includes: support to the tourism sector; market towns; county towns; urban centers; tackling economic disadvantage by using and stimulating technology; enterprise; learning; skills and employment opportunities; and affordable housing initiatives.
(c) It has also supported a limited number of rural and environment projects which aim to increase economic development opportunities in rural areas as well as initiatives to support and maintain the high quality of the Oxfordshire environment: such as support for the local food group, village shop support; sponsored village shop of the year competition; Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum; Rural Framework; and West Oxfordshire Leader Plus.
4. All of these themes are reflected in the Economic Development Strategy Oxfordshire 2006-2016 and align with OCC corporate economic development objectives:
“To help the economy to grow as fast as possible with a real choice of access to jobs, homes, leisure and services and in a way that does not prejudice the future of our environment”, to “safeguard our communities….” and to “make Oxfordshire – its city, towns, villages and countryside – welcoming, safe and exceptional places to live, work, learn and visit.”
They also align with Environment & Economy Directorate objectives around economic development:
‘’To improve the council’s visibility and effectiveness in helping sustain a thriving Oxfordshire economy’’.
5. The past approval procedures in relation to economic development grants are:
(a) Project Description Form (application form) An applicant submits a project description form (the modified form attached at Annex 2 (download as .doc file) to the Economic Development Officer.
(b) A recommendation (the assessment used is attached at Annex 3 (download as .doc file)) is prepared Councillor Keith Mitchell, as the relevant portfolio holder, and the Head of Sustainable Development, are the decision makers for this funding.
(c) A decision is reached Councillor Mitchell and the Head of Sustainable Development will then aim to make a decision so that feedback to applicants can be made with the minimum delay.
6. Applications are currently received throughout the financial year.
Proposed Revisions
Proposed split of Economic Development Grant Fund
7. It is proposed that the original Economic Development Grants fund be split into two grant funds:
(1) Economic Development & Tourism Grant Fund (70% of the fund) Officer to manage the fund – Helen Ryan Decision makers: Councillor Keith Mitchell and Chris Cousins
(2) Environmental & Rural Grant Fund (30% of the fund – with 5% being transferable if the demand is less for this fund) Officer to manage the fund – Environment & Rural Programme Manager Decision makers: Councillor Roger Belson and Chris Cousins
Proposed amendments to receipt of Applications and Approval Procedures
8. It is proposed that the current procedures remain but that the following changes be made to the timescales in order to make the process more transparent and accessible:
Round 1
· Beginning March to the first week in April – all potential applications should be sent to the Economic Development Officer. · Second week in April – end of April - recommendations prepared by relevant officers (two week period). · Beginning of May to the end of June – a decision is made on the grant applications and all are advised of the outcome by letter mid July (four week period).
Round 2 (only if funding is still available)
· August to mid September– if there are remaining funds or new funds that have become available through the year this will be advertised on the OCC website. · Mid September to end September - recommendations prepared by relevant officers (two week period). · End September to mid November - a decision is made regarding any further grant applications and all are advised of the outcome by letter end of November (two week period).
9. It is also proposed to modify the authorised approval procedure to take account of the suggested changes in paragraph 7. The suggestion is to ‘Authorise the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development and Tourism, and/or the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development’ to approve individual grants in accordance with the revised procedure and criteria described in this report.
Raise awareness of the Grant Funds
10. It is proposed that the current organisations that tend to apply year on year be notified of the changes to the fund and that there will be two streams of funding. There will also be wider notification of the availability of the funding with information of the funds being available on the OCC website, and within the grants information booklet.
Monitoring and Reviewing Project Outcomes/Targets
11. Improved monitoring procedures will be put in place to review value for money and the quality of the project outcomes.
12. An annual briefing on the funds will be provided to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Tourism and the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.
Conclusions
13. The proposed changes should make the grant application process fairer, more transparent and easier to manage operationally, and will ensure that grants support the Council’s objectives.
RECOMMENDATION
14. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the described revisions to the Grant Fund as set out in paragraphs 7- 9.
CHRIS COUSINS Head of Sustainable Development Environment & Economy
Background papers: SPED Budget Strategy (June 2006)
Contact Officer: Helen Ryan, Economic Development & Tourism Officer Tel: (01865) 815539
February 2008
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