1. DCC grants funding
1.1 The Dunedin City Council makes a significant contribution to the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the local community, and its natural and built environment via its contestable grants, discretionary funding and community service agreements.
1.2 The DCC Grants Policy sets out the Council’s expectations for the prudent and transparent allocation and administration of grants funding, and outlines the responsibilities and obligations of the DCC Grants Subcommittee and any other group or individual that is delegated authority by Council to approve grants funding.
1.3 The Grants Policy also provides assurance to the community, ratepayers and other stakeholders of Council's commitment to prudent decision-making, probity and transparency, and the responsible management and delivery of all its grants funding programmes.
1.4 Definitions
- Contestable grants
- Funding to support the delivery of a clearly defined activity, project or initiative
- Monies are awarded through a publicly contestable process
- Allocating group assesses funding proposals and allocates limited funds as fairly and strategically as possible
- Applications are invited through scheduled funding round(s), which are publicly advertised and have an opening and closing date (certain grants funding up to $500 may be made available through a year-round application process)
- Eligible entities have an equal opportunity to be considered for a grant
- Clearly-defined assessment process is applied to all applicants in a transparent manner
- Financial allocation is discoverable and public.
- Discretionary funding
- Funding allocated outside DCC grants round schedules and/or outside allocated grants budget
- In such instances where:
- - the organisation has a compelling reason for funding allocation
- - application cannot be addressed within scheduled grant rounds or established criteria
- - funding would significantly contribute to one or more of the Council’s strategic goals
- - non-supply of funding would significantly impact upon one or more of the Council’s strategic goals.
- Community service agreement
- One-off or time-bound (typically one to three year) agreement between the Council and an external entity to supply a community service or activity, or manage a community facility on behalf of the Council.
1.5 Principles:
The DCC Grants Policy recognises the following core principles.
- Encourage the development and delivery of social, economic, environmental and cultural opportunities for all residents and visitors, and support the local natural and built environment.
- Encourage partnerships and pathways that support community wellbeing and resilience.
- Support community aspirations by establishing effective public engagement and participation forums that are accessible and appropriate.
- Acknowledge and celebrate the social, cultural and ethnic values of our communities.
1.6 Objectives:
The objectives of this Grants Policy are:
- to outline the grants funding needs and expectations of local groups, communities and organisations, establish what types of grants funding are available, and specify which projects, activities and initiatives are eligible for funding
- to establish and maintain a structured, transparent and responsible approach to the fair distribution of DCC grants funding
- to establish and maintain effective monitoring and reporting practices with regards grants applications, decisions and funds allocation, and accountability for the use of funds
- to increase the resilience, effectiveness and efficiency of communities, groups and other local entities through the provision of advice on activity planning and funding options, including from alternative sources outside the Council.
1.7 Strategic alignment:
The Grants Policy seeks to ensure all grants funding:
- supports community engagement with, and active participation in the DCC Strategic Framework and 10 Year Plan
- promotes activities that demonstrate a contribution to the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the local community, and the local natural and built environment as outlined in the DCC Strategic Framework and 10 Year Plan
- encourages the creation and delivery of local community-focused groups, initiatives and activities.
Figure One: DCC strategic framework
Strategic Framework - The Council’s strategic framework. The framework sets the city’s strategic priorities and, through the Annual Plan and Long Term Plan processes, guides the resourcing required to deliver on these priorities.