Media release

7 April 2011

Community funding on the agenda

Auckland Council has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting worthwhile community projects and organisations with an interim funding model proposal for the next financial year.

Auckland Council’s Social and Community Development Forum discussed the interim community funding model at its meeting today. It is also being discussed with all the local boards and their feedback, along with that of this forum and the Culture, Arts and Events Forum will form part of the final recommendations.

The interim funding model and recommendations will go to the Regional Development and Operations Committee in May for approval.

“It is likely to be a similar arrangement to what is currently in place, with a range of grants available to apply for. Legacy councils have awarded amounts in the past from $100 to around $5,000 so all sorts of groups and projects are catered for,” says Cr Cathy Casey, chair of the Social and Community Development Forum.

Approximately $689,000 has been earmarked to distribute around the 21 local boards as discretionary funding for the next financial year. This is in addition to the $1.47m in local board discretionary funding proposed by the Mayor in the draft annual plan. Other non-contestable financial arrangements confirmed by legacy councils prior to amalgamation are locked in until July 2012.

“The model also proposes creating sub-regional funding committees to allocate contestable grants, which total approximately $6m” says Cr Casey.

“We understand how important past council funding has been to community groups and want to reassure them that there will be information available as soon possible about the future of funding.”

ENDS

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