Agenda item

Larger Grants Awarding Process

To submit a report by the Treasurer.

Minutes:

(Mr Aled M Jones declared a prejudicial interest in discussion as regards to the Anglesey Young Farmers’, but following legal advice he was able to take part during discussion on the matter but he left the meeting during voting thereon).

 

Submitted – a report by the Treasurer in respect of the process for awarding of larger grants including determining the level of funding available and the process for monitoring grants awarded.

 

The Treasurer reported that since 2016, the Trust has awarded larger grants with an open invitation extended to organisations to submit applications for assistance.  In 2018, a total of 34 applications were received and 14 organisations were successful, with grants between £6,000 and £66,414 awarded, with £349,768 of grants awarded in total.  He noted that whilst the current Charitable Trust cannot employ its own staff and is therefore limited on what can be achieved and distributing grants in this way is probably the best solution the Trust can achieve given the current resources.  Moving to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) will allow the Trust to reconsider how it uses its funds to achieve the greatest benefit to the people of Anglesey.

 

The Investments and Contracts Committee held on 6 November, 2018 and following consideration of the performance of the investment portfolio over the preceding 12 months and after consideration of the risks and the need to maintain the value of the fund at a level that generated sufficient annual income, the Committee recommended that the sum to be available for larger grants should remain at the 2018 level i.e. £350k.

 

The Secretary raised whether the Charitable Trust wished to consider applications from Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Isle of Anglesey Young Farmers’ as part of the Larger Grants Awarding Scheme as the arrangement to fund these organisations will come to an end in 2019.  Urdd Gobaith Cymru received a grant of £40k per annum and the Isle of Anglesey Young Farmer’s received a grant of £30k per annum both for a period of 5 years from the Charitable Trust in June 2014.  The Secretary further said that the Charitable Trust may also consider whether to fund these organisations for a further year until the CIO is established. 

 

Some Members of the Charitable Trust expressed concerns that no reference was made to the above mentioned organisations within the report.  Whilst accepting that both organisations are paramount in affording young people opportunities to take part in competitions and activities, it was considered that all organisations should be dealt equally as part of the grant awarding process.  Following deliberations it was agreed that a report be submitted to the January 2019 meeting of the Charitable Trust to discuss options as regards to funding Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Isle of Anglesey Young Farmers’ in the future.

 

It was RESOLVED:-

 

·      That larger grants are allocated again in 2019 and that the CIO, once set up, reviews whether awarding larger grants continues from 2020 onwards;

·      That the sum of £350,000, as recommended by the Investment and Contracts Committee, is allocated to fund the larger grants in 2019;

·      That applications are invited immediately with a closing date for applications being 31 January, 2019;

·      That applications received are considered by the Regeneration Committee at its meeting on 13 February, 2019, following the criteria set out in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 of this report, with the recommendations of this Committee being considered by the full Charitable Trust on 16 April, 2019;

·      That a report be submitted to the January 2019 meeting of the Charitable Trust as regard to options whether to award grant funding to Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Isle of Anglesey Young Farmers’.

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