To receive a presentation by the Managing Director of Menter Môn in relation to the above.
Minutes:
The Secretary reported that the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust has allocated match funding to Menter Môn over the years. He stated that these match funding allocations are separate from the yearly grant funding process to playing fields, village/community halls etc.
The Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust has a Regeneration Committee who has been considering economic funding and European Grant for Rural Areas.
A presentation was received by Mr. Gerallt Llewelyn Jones, Managing Director of Menter Môn in relation to an application for match funding of £330,000 for European Community Grant in Rural Wales 2014 – 2019.
Mr. Jones stated that the funding will draw upon £2,805,000 of EARDF and other funding assigned through the EU Rural Development Plan’s LEADER programme to assist the economic restructuring of the Isle of Anglesey. This funding covers the period between 1st July, 2014 and 31st December 2017. Figures indicate that the Charitable Trust’s funding will amount to 10.5% of a total fund of £3,135,000.
He gave a background of Menter Môn from its establishment in 1995. The company does not distribute profit; it has wholly altruistic purposes of adding economic value and creating jobs. Annog Cyf., is a subsidiary commercial company of Menter Môn and both employ 65 staff and in 2013 returned a turnover of £7m.
The Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust agreed to provide Menter Môn with £300k of funds to produce a total budget of £3m for 2010 – 2014 which was concentrated upon Village Enhancements and Community Enterprises and Services. 18 capital projects were completed, 15 town communities/villages received investment, 25 community groups advised, 219 individuals advised, 41,600 population of the areas receiving benefit and 1,212 children benefiting from the works.
The European Community Grant Programme 2014 – 2019 will be targeted towards :-
· Exploitation of digital technology
· Facilitating pre commercial development, business partnerships and short supply chains
· Exploring new ways of providing non-statutory local services
· Renewable Energy at Community Level
· Adding value to local identity and natural and cultural resources
Issues raised by the Members of the Trust :-
· Questions raised as to the percentage of the grant allocation taken up by administration. Mr. Gerallt Ll. Jones responded that less than 10% of the grant would be used for administration purposes.
· Questions raised whether organisations are able to obtain a grant from Menter Môn and the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust for the same project. Mr. Gerallt Ll. Jones responded the grant application would need to separate i.e. for a different venture within the project.
· The need for the Charitable Trust to investigate the possibility of the Town of Amlwch to be able to apply for grant funding from the funds of the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust. It was noted that Amwlch at present are unable to apply for funding from the Charitable Trust as noted within the Trust Deed.
· Members of the Trust ascertain whether the financial accounts of Menter Môn could be available for inspection. Mr. Gerallt Ll. Jones responded that the accounts are sent to the Economic Development Department on an yearly basis. He noted that he would be happy to afford the Members of the full Trust the financial accounts of Menter Môn for 2013.
Following further deliberations, it was RESOLVED :-
· To support, in principle, the application for match funding for European Community Grant in Rural Wales;
· That the Regeneration Committee shall discuss the matter in detail together with the guidelines for the allocation of match funding grants and report back to the next full Charitable Trust.