| Community Investment Support Fund Council Policy | Version: | 2 |
| Approval Date: | 30 April 2019 | |
| Approved by: | Council | |
| Review Date: | 30 April 2021 | |
| Responsible Officer: | Director Finance & Strategy | |
| Authorising Officer: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline Council’s commitment to providing the community with funding for activities and programs that align with Council’s strategic direction.
Annual program guidelines for all programs will detail the:
- eligibility criteria
- application processes
- key dates
- assessment criteria and
- assessment process.
Scope
This policy applies to all funding provided by Council through the Community Investment Support Fund (CISF) in order to guide consistent governance, administration and assessment processes.
Definitions
This section defines the key terms used in this policy.
Terms used in this Policy
CISF: Community Investment Support Fund
City: The City of Greater Geelong organisation, led by the CEO.
Council: The City of Greater Geelong Council comprised of elected councillors and led by the Mayor.
ELT: The Executive Leadership Team of the City, as constituted from time to time.
Grant: A payment made by Council to an independent organisation or individual for a specific purpose or project that demonstrates community benefit and assists in meeting the City of Greater Geelong’s strategic goals and objectives. Grants are subject to an application process and independent and generally are distributed among a range of individuals, organisations or groups.
Guidelines: The Community Investment Support Fund endorsed guidelines provide information on each competitive grant stream including eligibility, assessment criteria, timelines, reporting requirements and associated supporting information. Guideline documents have been developed for each individual competitive grant program.
Application Framework: Provides the process to guide how the fund will operate. This includes identification of themes for funding, streams of funding available and how the community can apply for and receive funding through the program.
Assessment Criteria: The weighted criteria endorsed as part of the guidelines that is used to evaluate and prioritise applications for funding.
Assessment Framework: Provides the process for assessment of grant applications to the competitive grant streams. The framework requires an assessment panel, including independent community members to make recommendations for funding to Council for endorsement. Independent panel members operate according to the Assessment Panel Terms of Reference.
Policy
The City, through the CISF, is committed to investing funds for the development of positive and beneficial projects within the community in line with Geelong’s Vision, Greater Geelong: A Clever and Creative Future, and Council’s strategic objectives as outlined in the Council Plan.
The CISF Application Framework and Assessment Framework provides the structure for establishment of processes to ensure consistency, fairness, transparency and accountability. Any review of processes must be aligned to the frameworks.
Each funding program shall operate under established guidelines that identify timelines, and mechanisms to provide status reports. Funded projects will be monitored to ensure the benefit to the community is realised.
Application to the CISF and assessment of applications for funding will be made using endorsed criteria, guidelines and assessment panel arrangements.
Recommendations for funding will be endorsed by Council.
All City employees, assessment panel members and Councillors must declare any conflict of interest when involved in the assessment and endorsement of grant applications or proposal for funds in accordance with the Local Government Act (Vic) 1989.
The City is committed to working together for a thriving community and the CISF enables the City to:
- Support communities to be resilient, inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected;
- Encourage communities to develop and implement sustainable solutions and protect the natural environment;
- Provide opportunities for people to develop ideas and participate in cultural and creative activities and events;
- Activate community spaces by supporting ideas for infrastructure that is designed for people and provide broad community benefit; and
- Provide avenues to partner with community to develop a consistent approach to get things done and collaborate to create opportunities.
Principles
The following best practice principles and practices underpin the Community Investment & Support Fund frameworks:
- providing a mechanism that allows the City to work with community to support shared outcomes;
- providing the opportunity for community to identify and respond to local issues and priorities that link with Council vision, plans, strategies and priorities;
- enhancing and supporting community capacity and to take an active role in improving the quality of life, health and wellbeing of residents in the Greater Geelong municipality;
- recognising and fostering diversity, community involvement, inclusion and participation;
- abiding by social equity principles that seek to make access to services and facilities more equitable across Greater Geelong;
- valuing the cultural, social, economic and environmental sustainability of our municipality; and
- good governance through transparency of our priorities and processes.
Grant Programs
Grant programs listed are current at the time of publication of this policy. The list of Grant programs will be published on the Geelong Australia website.
| Grant Programs | Description |
|---|---|
| Creative Communities – Arts Creative | Support the initiation, development and delivery of quality arts projects, enriching the cultural fabric of the Geelong region and maximising community participation in local arts activity. |
| Communities – Festivals | Aims to strengthen community festival activities across the municipality and celebrate the diverse and unique communities within the City of Greater Geelong. |
| Healthy & Connected Communities – Projects | To facilitate community projects activities that will contribute to an inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected community. |
| Healthy & Connected Communities – Equipment | To assist with the cost of small equipment purchases that help community groups to deliver their services and programs, and to improve resources that support volunteer groups. |
| Environment & Sustainability | To assist with the cost of projects that help to achieve the goals and outcomes of Council's strategic objectives relating to environment and sustainability. |
| Central Geelong Heritage | To support the restoration of heritage building facades, in non-residential, non-council owned properties to improve the quality and attractiveness of streets within the Central Geelong Central Action Plan boundary. |
| Community Events | Encouraging and supporting local and community events as distinct from the activities in charter of Geelong Major Events |
| Community Infrastructure | Planning and delivery of capital works projects within the City of Greater Geelong in community and sporting facilities. Must be located on public land managed or owned by Council, or Crown land where the management of the facility is community based and there is access for the broader community |
| Community Private Infrastructure | Planning and delivery of capital works projects within the City of Greater Geelong in community and sporting facilities NOT located on public land managed or owned by Council, or Crown land where the management of the facility is community based, referred to as “PRIVATE” but where there is access for the broader community |
Implementation of this Policy
Implementation framework
This policy is implemented through the CISF and Assessment Frameworks and Grant Guidelines:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Policy | Outlines Council’s commitment to providing the community with funding for activities and programs that align with Council’s strategic direction |
| Application Framework | Outlines the type of funding provided through the Community Investment Support Fund (CISF) (note: will not include values until after Budget Adoption) |
| Assessment Framework | Outlines the assessment process for Grant funding under the CISF |
| CISF Standard Grant Guidelines | Details Grant funding offered, application and acquittal requirements common to all grant funds – for use by applicant |
| Grant Program Guidelines (individual) | Details Grant funding offered, requirements, assessment criteria and information specific to that Grant program – for use by applicant in conjunction with the CISF Standard Grant Guidelines |
Monitoring and reporting
The Responsible Officer monitors compliance with this Policy and is responsible for reporting to Council.
CISF Funding allocations are reported to Council periodically but at least annually and published on the Geelong Australia website www.geelongaustralia.com.au.
Advice and assistance
The Responsible Officer manages the provision of advice to the organisation regarding this policy.
A person who is uncertain how to comply with this policy should seek advice from the Responsible Officer.
Records
The City must retain records associated with this policy and its implementation for at least the period shown below.
| Record | Retention / Disposal Authority | Retention Period | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council Report | Director, Finance & Strategy | As per PRoV | EDMS – Council Meetings |
Review
The Council should review and, if necessary, amend this policy no later than four years after the approval date.
References
- Best Practice in Local Government Community Grants Programs (VLGA 2002)
- Australian Institute of Grants Management (AIGM) Grantmaking Took Kit
- Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (Vic) 2006
- Local Government Act (Vic) 1989 – Sect 79 – Disclosure of conflict of interest
Attachments
Community Investment Support Fund Application Framework (D18-202810)
Community Investment Support Fund Assessment Framework (D18-202872)
Community Investment Support Fund Assessment Panel Terms of Reference (D18-217857)
Community Investment Support Fund Guidelines