A EXTRA $214,000 will be set aside for council’s annual grants next year if proposed changes to the program are approved.
Frankston Council will publicly exhibit a new structure for its annual grants program soon. The extra funding proposed by council officers in the draft policy would be allocated for in the 2022/2023 budget.
The proposal would see annual grant program funding rise in 2022/2023 to $751,664, a net increase of $214,274 from the year prior.
Despite the overall rise in grant spending, the changes would also see grant funding cut for one regular recipient. Funding to the Frankston Toy Library is proposed to be slashed from a little more than $25,000 a year to $15,000.
Cr Steven Hughes took issue with the cut in funding to the Toy Library. He, alongside Cr Liam Hughes, voted against the item because they disagreed with the funding cut.
The report prepared by council officers read that the funding cut would likely impact the Toy Library’s staffing numbers and opening hours. “The Toy Library has indicated that if this funding were to be reduced, the impact on its operations would likely result in reduced opening hours and reduction of current 3-4 employed casual staff,” the report read. “It was also reported that a reduction in service (days open) may also result in a reduction of membership. The pandemic has already resulted in a significant loss in their membership, a decrease of 400 members. Other sources of income such as fundraising has been limited due to COVID-19.”
Cr Kris Bolam said that the Toy Library occupies an “enormous amount of space” at its site on Ebdale Street “paying zero rent, and we are still giving them a contribution.”
“They are getting a rent-free space and a $15,000 contribution, they’re doing pretty well,” he said.
Other proposed changes to the community grants program include the establishment of a panel featuring community members, councillor representatives, and subject matter experts to assess the grants, and the allocation of higher score/weighting to applicants who have unsuccessfully applied for grants in the two years prior to their current application.
The proposed changes will now be publicly exhibited before coming back to council again in June.
