Grant criteria

Report: 5
Date: 6 February 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

This report proposes criteria for assessing grant applications for funding from the Police Property Act Fund.

A. Recommendations

That the Committee approves the grant criteria attached as appendix 1.

B. Supporting information

1. In May 2003, the Co-ordination & Policing Committee considered a request for funding from the Ascent Citizenship Centre. Members felt unable to come to a decision on this request in the absence of criteria against which to assess it. The Finance Committee considered initial criteria in July but felt that these were not sufficiently detailed.

2. The criteria have now been reworked and are attached as Appendix 1.

3. If the committee is content with these a further detailed report will be made to the Finance Committee on administration and delegation issues in connection with the Police Property Act Fund.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The criteria place a positive emphasis on equalities issues, for instance, in encouraging relationships between the police and those communities underrepresented in the MPS. The criteria should not adversely affect any group or community.

D. Financial implications

The adoption of these criteria will introduce greater transparency and consistency to the making of grants from the Police Property Act Fund.

E. Background papers

• Report 13 to Finance Committee on 10 July 2003

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

Proposed grant criteria

It is suggested that the criteria for disbursement should derive from the MPS Agenda for Action (Mission, Vision, Values) in the following objectives:

• cut crime and the fear of crime
• improve police/community relations at the local level
• work in local partnership.

The following suggested criteria derive from the above objectives.

Project criteria

The projects which are supported by PPAF grants must be for charitable purposes and must be based and operate in the Metropolitan Police area to the benefit of local residents. The aims of a project must include one or more of the following:

1. to support people who are or have been
   • victims of crime
   • vulnerable to crime
2. to improve the quality of life for residents by initiatives which
   • prevent crime or reduce the fear of crime
   • divert people, especially young people, away from crime
   • reduce drug and alcohol abuse
   • reduce re-offending
3. to promote greater co-operation between the police and local communities by
   • encouraging the development of a positive relationship between members of local communities and the police, especially those sections of the community which are currently under-represented in the MPS
   • improving informed community engagement in the policing of London
   • developing local partnerships which have a relevance to policing in London and relationships between police and the community

In addition to supporting specific projects, grants may also be available to support the general activities of an organisation provided the organisation can demonstrate ongoing financial viability which is not dependent on MPA funding.

Eligibility criteria

The organisations should:

1. operate on a not-for-profit basis
2. carry out activities which benefit residents within the Metropolitan Police area
3. be able to demonstrate
   • sound management of their affairs (for instance by accounts, annual reports etc)
   • on-going financial viability which will not be dependent on MPA funding
4. not seek to promote or oppose any political party or take part in party political activity
5. promote equality and diversity both in its employment practices and its service delivery
6. be able to account for how the disbursement is to be used and how the results will be measured.

Selection criteria

Applications must provide information on the following:

1. the amount of grant being requested
2. the goals and objectives of the project, how these will be delivered and what measures will be adopted to measure success
3. what the potential benefits of the project are for people who live or work in the Metropolitan Police District, with particular reference to the above project criteria
4. which sector of the community the project is aimed at
5. whether the project is responding to a demonstrated need and, if so, how this has been expressed
6. evidence that the project has the support of the Crime and Disorder Reduction partnership for the borough in which it is located, where appropriate
7. how the organisation is constituted, its management and membership
8. its finances, including sources of grant funding and income generation, and accounts to demonstrate viability
9. the consequences of MPA funding not being available
10. examples of previously managed projects (if any).

Grant conditions and parameters

Grants will not be made:

1. to provide funds for services or goods normally provided from government, local authority or other funding sources
2. to directly support a local authority or other public organisation (other than indirectly through a partnership arrangement)
3. to fund individuals employed by the MPA or MPS; to fund organisations that are wholly or substantially controlled by the MPA/MPS or by MPS Staff Associations or staff ; fund-raising events organised by the MPS or its officers, organisations or bodies connected with the police service generally. However consideration will be given to funding for organisations and events run by off-duty police officers and staff, and for those organisations where the MPS has a minority or associated interest.

Award of grants:

1. only non-recurring grants will be made, without any commitment to funding in future years
2. the MPA propose to delegate awards of grants of £20,000 and under to the MPS
3. grants above that figure to be approved by the MPA Co-ordination and Policing Committee.
4. Grants above £50,000 will only be made in exceptional circumstances

If grant aid is given, the organisation will be required to report back on the outcome of the project and to account for how the grant has been spent.

Funding for grants will depend on the availability of PPAF income for disbursement.

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