Consultation process
Review of Scheme for Establishment of Community CouncilsAdministration Grant
Do you think what is covered in the admin grant is adequate? (see Guidance page 42)
• Advertising/general publicity and promotional activities
• Accommodation/lets
• Auditors fees
• Consultation with the community
• Data protection registration (ICO)
• IT software/hardware/website construction and maintenance
• Photocopying/printing
• Postage
• Production and circulation of minutes, agenda and annual reports
• Subscriptions
• Telephone costs/ISP costs/ Internet Service Provider- (Possible in villages)
• Travel costs
• Expenses for attending ceremonies
• Remembrance Day Wreaths
• Subsistence
• Honorarium
• Gifts
• Donations to Community Groups
• Stationery
Yes, the items that are listed in the guidance I do feel are adequate but things like the amount you can donate to community groups should be increased especially with inflation these days. As a CC when making a donation to a community group if asked we give £100 per year and only expense £50 of that and while that works for us because we don't give our a large amount it should be increased. ICO fees should however be separate similar to the PLI.
There seems to be plenty of money in Thriving Communities, so you would assume that these grants would be indexed to inflation.
Costs have dramatically increased since grant amount .All costs and IT never considered
We have a grant of £800 .Due to increased costs this is insufficient
In at least 14 years the amount has stayed the same, has inflation stayed the same? I have seen CC's give more than the allowed amount of £50 to community groups and I don't understand how they can do that if it has come from the admin grant. Donations given from fundraised money is different. Perhaps the allowance of £50 should be increased also along with the grant. Nowadays we have, data sims for laptop, software subscriptions, bank charges to pay. I think that the ICO subscription should be paid by South Ayrshire Council and not come out of the admin grant, just like the insurance.
I actually now think that the donations should be scrapped. I also think that the money should always be a top-up to the fund for EVERY year instead of CC's being able to accrue a surplus of funds due to being given the full amount (e.g. £800) every FULL ELECTION when there is already money left in our admin fund.
But, more support from SAC would be helpful e.g. communication provided with attractive graphic design that can be printed or published directly on the Internet social media platforms.