Staff Consultation: Incoming Grants Policy and Procedure

This consultation has concluded.

• Background

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  Council currently benefits from substantial grants receipts from both regular and ad hoc sources. For the financial year 2019-2020, Council received $4.3M in capital and $16.1M in operating grants, with the majority of funding coming from the State or Federal governments.

  Most recently the Council secured over $18.7M funding from the Western Sydney City Deal to deliver improved community facilities and public spaces, and enhance livability across the local government area.

  The 2017 review of delegations recommended that ELT conduct a strategic review of grant applications, including seeking grants, operational implication analysis and authorisation processes relating to grants.

  Council reports on its grant expenditure in the Annual Financial Statements, with the Strategic Resource Allocation service overseeing the grants register and undertaking monthly reconciliations of income and expenditure. Grants income and expenditure is also monitored through the monthly and quarterly reporting processes.

  The development and introduction of a grants management framework aims to:

  • Establish a framework for approving, managing, monitoring and evaluating grants and grant funded initiatives; and
  • Ensure consistent and objective analysis of inbound (e.g. grants from government) funding opportunities to ensure alignment with Council’s integrated plans (i.e. Community Strategic Plan, Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan).

  Council currently benefits from substantial grants receipts from both regular and ad hoc sources. For the financial year 2019-2020, Council received $4.3M in capital and $16.1M in operating grants, with the majority of funding coming from the State or Federal governments.

  Most recently the Council secured over $18.7M funding from the Western Sydney City Deal to deliver improved community facilities and public spaces, and enhance livability across the local government area.

  The 2017 review of delegations recommended that ELT conduct a strategic review of grant applications, including seeking grants, operational implication analysis and authorisation processes relating to grants.

  Council reports on its grant expenditure in the Annual Financial Statements, with the Strategic Resource Allocation service overseeing the grants register and undertaking monthly reconciliations of income and expenditure. Grants income and expenditure is also monitored through the monthly and quarterly reporting processes.

  The development and introduction of a grants management framework aims to:

  • Establish a framework for approving, managing, monitoring and evaluating grants and grant funded initiatives; and
  • Ensure consistent and objective analysis of inbound (e.g. grants from government) funding opportunities to ensure alignment with Council’s integrated plans (i.e. Community Strategic Plan, Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan).

  This consultation has concluded.

• New policy and procedure

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  This new policy and procedure will help to ensure that incoming grants are considered in the context of Council’s priorities, plans and other funding options. Before applying for a grant, it is important to ensure that Council considers whole of life costs (capital grants) and any requirement for matching funds. Council must also ensure that it can comply with any conditions stated in the grant application form and/or grant application guidelines.

  The grants management framework informing the new policy and procedure was endorsed by ELT in August 2020. Core elements of this framework, for example the business case requirement for applications, are reflected in the draft policy and procedure and cannot be amended.

  This new policy and procedure will help to ensure that incoming grants are considered in the context of Council’s priorities, plans and other funding options. Before applying for a grant, it is important to ensure that Council considers whole of life costs (capital grants) and any requirement for matching funds. Council must also ensure that it can comply with any conditions stated in the grant application form and/or grant application guidelines.

  The grants management framework informing the new policy and procedure was endorsed by ELT in August 2020. Core elements of this framework, for example the business case requirement for applications, are reflected in the draft policy and procedure and cannot be amended.

  This consultation has concluded.

• Next Steps

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  Following staff consultation and updates to the documents, if required, it is anticipated that this policy will be endorsed by the Policy Control Group, adopted by ELT and then placed on the Staff Intranet.

  Following staff consultation and updates to the documents, if required, it is anticipated that this policy will be endorsed by the Policy Control Group, adopted by ELT and then placed on the Staff Intranet.

  This consultation has concluded.