Potential changes to Rother District Council’s grants scheme are set to go in front of cabinet members next week.
Next Monday (October 7), Rother council leaders are set to decide whether to back proposals, which could see the Sussex Community Foundation (SCF) take on responsibility for running the district’s grants programme.
In a report to cabinet, officers say a partnership with the charity could improve on the current grants scheme, making things simpler for applicants and providing better value for money.
In the report, a council spokesman said: “A grant making programme through partnership and administered through SCF will provide better value for money, be able to reach smaller communities through a simpler application, monitoring and provide an annual impact report detailing the difference the grants have made to beneficiaries in meeting our aligned strategic priorities.
“The establishment of a fund specifically for the Rother District could also encourage others to increase their local giving to create a greater impact.”
If the changes are approved in a full council vote, the grants programme would undergo several changes. These include a reduction in the maximum level of grant funding available for capital projects (from £30,000 to £20,000) and the introduction of revenue funding grants of up to £10,000.
The grants programme would also no longer be open to town and parish councils or to not-for-profit organisations with an income of more than £2m.
The overall pot for funding from the council would also be reduced from £130,000 to £100,000. However, the report notes how the council has not awarded its total allocation since 2020/21.
Officers also note how SCF would be able to secure funding from other sources to feed into the grants scheme.
If backed by cabinet members, the proposals will go to a full council vote for a final decision.
