Councillor's bid to share out funds fails

Councillors at the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee on June 12 were asked to rule on decisions by officers on where cash from the Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) should be allocated.

 

Projects can apply for grants up to £2,500, and 10 were recommended to receive that maximum amount, including Bendoran Watersports, Taynuilt Primary School parent council, Lorn and Oban Healthy Options, Tiree Makery CIC, Benderloch’s Victory Hall, Dervaig Community Hall, and Home-Start Lorn.

 

In the report, council chief executive Pippa Milne said: “Of the 35 applications received (requesting a total of £70,136.19), two were withdrawn or ineligible.

 

“Of the eligible applications, 15 are recommended to be awarded funding. Nine of these are for island-based projects."

 

That left 18 projects without an award, having scored lower during an assessment process. These include Luing Community Council, Argyll FM, Oban FM, Lismore Historical Society, Comunn Gàidhealach An Òbain (Oban Mod Academy), Oban Pipe Band, Tobermory High School Parent Council, Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt, and Appin Hall.

 

At the meeting, one councillor expressed concern that two organisations were earmarked to succeed with multiple bids.

 

The Mull and Iona Community Trust, and the Tiree Community Development Trust, were listed to be allocated the maximum amount of £2,500 for each of two different projects, meaning both organisations would receive £5,000.

 

Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn) sought to give £2,500 to each group, with the surplus distributed to other organisations who did not receive their full requested amount.

 

Councillor Green said: “I do not know what has happened in previous years, but there are a couple of projects where the same organisation has submitted multiple bids. There is nothing in the rules prohibiting this.”

 

Antonia Baird, the council’s community development officer, responded: “We determine bids on merit rather than who is doing the bid. We are undertaking a review.

 

“It used to be that there was ‘salami slicing’ to try to give everybody something, but this is project funding and we have to look at the deliverability.

 

“If an organisation has costed their project, asked for £2,500 and we allocate them £900, that leads to a risk of failure of delivery. I think it puts projects at risk.”

 

Councillor Green then said: “Multiple bids from the same organisations potentially sets a precedent, with grants going to the same organisation.

 

“My proposal would be to reduce the grants for [the two trusts] to £2,500 each, and allocate Pennyghael Community Hall and Tiree Historical Centre £2,500 each.” The latter two projects were listed to receive £941.05 each.

 

Councillor Green also indicated that the £1,882.10 surplus should go to Tiree’s Hynish Trust, which was the highest-scoring project not to be allocated any funding.

 

Councillor Julie McKenzie (SNP, Oban North and Lorn), chairing the committee for the first time, moved that the officers’ recommendations were accepted.

 

Councillor Green then moved his alterations as an amendment, but only his ward colleague, Green Party councillor Luna Martin, sided with him, defeating his amendment by five votes to two.