Grants from Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council

Grant Awarding Policy

Introduction to Policy
A grant is any payment made by the Council to be used by an organisation for a specific purpose that will benefit the Parish, or residents of the Parish, and which is not directly controlled or administered by the Council. This is permissible under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Council awards grants, at its discretion, to Parish organisations which can demonstrate a clear need for financial support to benefit the Parish by:

Providing a service;
Enhancing the quality of life;
Improving recreation and/or sports;
Improving the environment;
Promoting the Parish of Pilning & Severn Beach in a positive way.

Grant Application Process

1. The Clerk to the council will receive all applications in the first instance and will then collate all the
   necessary information from the applicant ready for presentation and discussion at a Full Council
   meeting. The Clerk will supply an application form on request.
2. Applicants will be required to contact the Clerk via email detailing the amount of Grant sought along
   with full contact details of the organisation or group.
3. In addition to the contact email to the Clerk, organisations will be required to provide the following
   supporting information:

a copy of their written constitution or details of their aims and purpose,
full details of the project or activity,
demonstration that the grant will be of benefit to the local community within the Parish,
the proportion or number of beneficiaries living in the electoral area,
demonstration of a clear need for the funding,
a copy of the previous year’s accounts or, for new initiatives, a detailed budget and business plan.

4. The Council will expect Councillors to declare any expression of interest for a possible grant
application exceeding £100 at the start of the meeting where the grant funding is being discussed.
5. The Council will make the decision on which grants to award. All applicants will be contacted
following the Council’s decision.
6. Funds available are limited and guidance can be given to applicants as to how much money is likely
to be available in a specific financial year.

Conditions of Funding
Under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Organisations must be charitable or not-for-profit. Private organisations that are businesses to make profit or surplus with not be considered.
Grants will not be made to individuals.
An organisation should have a bank account in its own name with two authorised representatives required to sign each cheque.
The administration of and accounting for any grant shall be the responsibility of the recipient. All awards must be properly accounted for and evidence of expenditure should be supplied to the Council as requested.
Only one application for a grant will be considered from each organisation in any one financial year.
Grants will not be made to projects that discriminate on any grounds.
Grants will not be made retrospectively.
Ongoing commitments to award grants or subsidies in future years will not be made. Each year a fresh application will be required.
Each application will be assessed on its own merits.
The Council may make the award of any grant or subsidy subject to such additional conditions and requirements as it considers appropriate. The Council reserves the right to refuse any grant application which it considers to be inappropriate or against the objectives of the Council.
Any grant must only be used for the purpose for which it was awarded unless the written approval of the Council has been obtained for a change in use of the grant monies, and that any unspent portion of the grant must be returned to the Council by the end of the financial year in which it was awarded.
The Council may make the award of any grant or subsidy as it considers appropriate in the event of any unforeseen urgent event.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Council from exercising, at any time, its existing duty or power in respect of providing financial assistance or grants to local or national organisations under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 137.

Version 1
Last agreed date: 5th January 2023
Last Review date: May 2024
Next Review date: May 2025

Grant application form (downloads as a Word Document)

Summary of Grants given and received