Consultation process
Review of Scheme for Establishment of Community CouncilsAdministration Grant - Donations
Currently donations can be made to community groups from the administration allowance (see Scheme page 43) however there is no maximum value noted against this donation.
Should donations to Community Groups be an agreed maximum (of groups and money) ? If yes, please provide your suggestions?
This is news to me. When I joined a CC in 2012 I think it was, the handbook definitely said that you could only give a maximum of £50 to any community group and a maximum of £150 in total in donations. So three groups, £50 each. When did this change? Given inflation I think that amount should go up if the admin allowance goes up.
There is no clear guidance at the moment re grants from CCs to support local groups but it appears that CCs 'typically support 3 groups with £50 each, however, that is not set in stone. The only guidance (on page 43 of the Financial Accounting for Community Councils) states that anything over £250 has to be approved and agreed with the SAC CC Engagement Officer in advance; otherwise, it is up to each CC who they wish to donate to/fund, so long as all the admin expenses (again details of the typical uses/considerations of the admin allowance are shown on pg 43) are taken into account then the CC can make those decisions.
Clear guidance would definitely be welcomed! Upto £250 from admin grant seems appropriate if all expenses are accounted for. In practice community councillors do not claim for all expenses which explains some of the underspend.