Grant policies questioned

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 4

Grant policies questioned

Organisations such as the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Ferrymead Trust should not have to rely on metropolitan grants committee funding, said the chairman of the Heathcote County Council, Mr O. T. Alpers, last evening. Bit organisations such as the orchestra and Ferrymead should not be on “tenterhooks” waiting for these grants from year to year, he told a meeting of the council’s finance and administration committee.

The suggestion of the Ferrymead Trust that it should be funded through levies on local bodies, such as was done for the Canterbury Museum, was “not a bad idea,” he said. Since it was started Ferrymead had received a smaller total grant than the museum received in a single year. Councils had lost sight of the origins of Ferrymead. While it was now seen as a “bunqfeof volunteers trying ”& r to

scrounge money from councils” it was originally started by the councils, Mr Alpers said. He was commenting on two separate letters to the council from the Ferrymead Trust and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra asked the council for a grant of $1526 because an application to the metropolitan grants committee for $48,924 had resulted in a recommended grant of only $15,000. The Ferrymead Trust said in its letter that the metropolitan grants committee grant of $lO,OOO this year was a substantial reduction on past grants and it would inhibit the development of the trust. The council agreed to allow $l5OO in its estimates for Ferrymead. A decision on the orchestra’s request was held over until next month.

Cr R. Simcock suggested that if the council and such

organisations did not take note of the grants committee’s recommendations there was little point in having such a committee. Cr T. P. Willis, lhe finance and administration committee chairman, agreed that such organisations came back to the council every year after the grants committee decisions. It was a waste of time to spend time researching and discussing these groups if the requests simply came back to individual councils after being discussed by the committee, he said. Mr Alpers said that those groups which were coming back to the councils for reconsideration of grants were very dependent on grants committee funding. If important organisations such as the orchestra and Ferrymead were removed from that committee’s funding there would be very few separate applications to councils by groups turned dowsgby the grants committee, Mr. Alpers said.

Civic awards Civic awards for volunteer community workers may be given in Heathcote. The committee received a report suggesting annual awards for volunteer work in recreation, youth activities, welfare, education, cultural or other community affairs. The report suggested that the winners be presented with a silver medal and that they be chosen by a committee of two council representatives and two people not on the council. The suggestion will be considered at the committee’s July meeting. If it is adopted five awards could be given this year and next year and up to two in subsequent years.