Decision details

The report seeks the approval of a scheme for accepting grant offers that are not more than £100,000 in value. The report also seeks authority for Heads of Service within the Place Portfolio to have delegated authority to approve grants under the scheme.

• That the Grant Approval Scheme for grant offers that are not more than £100,000, detailed in the report, be approved; and

• that the Heads of Service within the Place Portfolio be designated to have delegated authority to approve the acceptance of grant offers, under the Grant Approval Scheme

To enable a more efficient approval process to be implemented for lower value/ lower risk grants which will reduce the work pressures on Service Managers, Executive Directors and Directors enabling more focus on frontline services without diminishing the necessary checks and controls exercised by both the Finance Service and Legal and Governance. 

To continue with existing Council approval processes for all grant offers not more than £100,000 in value where every grant, no matter how small, will require approval under the Council’s normal decision-making process including approval at Executive Director or Director level. This will mean Service Managers having to spend more time writing reports and less time on service delivery. Executive Directors and Directors will also spend more time on reviewing and approving reports with less time spent on managing higher Portfolio priorities.