Introduction
All applications for grants to offset market rent (grants in lieu of rent) should be made to the Director of Place by completing the Application Form attached to this procedure.
Applications will be considered for any period up to the next scheduled rent review but that period should not exceed five years. Any grant application below a cumulative value of £25,000 (of foregone income) will be considered and determined by the Council’s officers in the form of the Senior Leadership Team. All applications for grants in excess of five years or with a cumulative value of £25,000 or more will be passed to the Council for determination.
The Senior Leadership Team and/or Council will use the criteria set out below when considering an application for a grant to offset market rent (i.e. a grant in lieu of rent).
The Council will not normally offer grant support to tenant organisations whose activities do not support one or more of the ‘Visions’ within the Community & Corporate Plan 2019 - 2023.
The Council will not normally offer grant support to tenant organisations that are not affiliated to or are a member of a recognised national body/voluntary organisation. This requirement is included to ensure that a tenant organisation has appropriate rules & regulations; and is required to follow best practice in such matters as safeguarding, protecting young children, financial probity and equality. It is expected that the organisation will have the relevant policies for such matters and can therefore demonstrate a corporate social responsibility.
Tenant organisations will need to supply a set of annual accounts and it may be necessary to supply audited accounts and/or accounts for more than one year. The Council may also request to see a medium term financial forecast to evaluate whether or not the organisation is financially sustainable.
Criteria for assessing applications for grants to offset market rent (Grant in lieu of rent)
- Do the activities or services provided by the tenant organisation contribute to the Council’s Community & Corporate Plan 2019 – 23?
(The Council will not normally offer grant support to tenant organisations whose activities do not support one or more of the ‘Visions’ within the Corporate Plan) - Is the tenant organisation affiliated or a member of a national body ?
(The Council will not normally offer grant support to tenant organisations that are not affiliated or are a member of a national body/voluntary organisation. This is to ensure that the tenant organisation has proper oversight and governance at a national level, such that it can follow best practice in such matters as safeguarding, financial probity and equality). - How many residents of Torbay benefit from the services provided by the organisation ?
- What is the level of benefit received by those users of the organisation ?
- How well does the organisation promote social inclusion ?
- Would the Council need to provide the services if they were not provided by the organisation ?
- How much other funding will the organisation be able to access if the Council provides a grant ?
- What mechanisms are in place for working in partnership with other organisations?
- How much effort is made towards self-help, especially in the form of local fundraising and grant applications ?
- How far is the organisation able to become self-supporting over the period of the grant?