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A decision made (27.06.07) to make interim arrangements to award grants for the Community Safety Fund.

Subject:	Community Safety Fund – Interim Arrangements To Award Grants
Decision Reference:	MD-T–2007-0058		Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?			Report File ref:	I:Minister:2007:Ministerial Decisions:MD 00 Community Safety Fund
Written report – Title	Community Safety Fund – Interim Arrangements To Award Grants
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Alan Muir Head – Driver and Vehicle Standards
Decision(s): The Minister approved:- 1. the interim arrangements for considering applications for and awarding grants from the Community Safety Fund. 2. an application from Jersey Fire Service for an interim grant of £3000 to replace smoke detectors in pensioners’ homes. 3. an application from Communicare Pre-school Playgroup for a grant of £110 to purchase child booster seats for use in their minibus. 4. an application from Child Accident Prevention Jersey for a grant of £2595 to sponsor a training programme for health professionals aimed at reducing the number of children suffering accidental burns in Jersey. 5. an application from Child Accident Prevention Jersey for a grant of £520 to sponsor the design and printing of Safety in Action Week quiz books that will be distributed to all primary year 5 students prior to attending an interactive workshop during Safety in Action Week.
Reason(s) for decision: To allow small but important community safety initiatives to proceed.
Action required: The sums to be disbursed to the relevant organisations.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)		Date of Decision:

Community Safety Fund - interim arrangements to award grants

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND – INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS TO AWARD GRANTS

Purpose of the Report

To consider introducing arrangements to consider and award grants for relatively small sums from the Community Safety Fund.

Background

There has been agreement to transfer the balance of the Community Safety Fund - £250,865 at 31st December 2006 – to a TTS controlled account. This was agreed by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services on 7th March 2007, Ministerial Decision number MD-T-2007-0024.

A report was submitted for the Minister’s consideration, in March, outlining how the Community Safety Fund might operate in future, including

· Setting up a separate business unit to hold the funds.

· Establishing a Community Safety Fund Board to manage the disbursement of the funds.

· Inviting applications for membership of the board and recommending the make up to the Minister.

· Setting terms of reference for the board.

No decision has yet been made on implementing any of the above. However, applications for grants from the fund have been received.

Discussion

The following table lists those organisations and persons who have submitted applications for or made enquiries about grants from the fund.

Fire Service	£10000	Replacing smoke detectors in pensioners’ homes.
Communicare Pre-school Group	£110	11 booster seats.
P Lutwyche	-	No details
Community Charitable Trust	-	Emergency Fund to provide loans to Islanders who would not be granted loans by banks.
Jersey Council on Alcoholism	-	Refurbishment and training for facility at Margaret House.
Deputy of St John	£24000	Pedestrian crossing and traffic calming at Parish Hall.
Child Accident Prevention	£2595	Training Programme for Health Professionals in reducing the number of children suffering accidental burns.
Child Accident Prevention	£520	Printing leaflets for Safety in Action Week.
Police – Road Safety Officer	£6950	Purchase of a Driving Simulator for pre-driver training

The Fire Service has intimated that it will have to suspend the service of replacing smoke detectors in pensioners’ homes as there are no more funds available. A senior officer from the service has also intimated that an interim grant of £3000 would allow the service to continue until firm procedures are in place.

It would seem reasonable that the Minister considers applications and awards grants in the interim but with relatively tight criteria. The criteria suggested are:-

 The proposal should be beneficial to the community at large;

 For one off items of expenditure directly related to community safety;

 Island based;

 For proposals that would significantly enhance or raise awareness on community safety and for which there is no or insufficient public funding;

 A maximum interim award of £3000.

Subject to the Minister approving the above criteria, it is suggested that the applications from the Fire Service (£3000), Communicare Pre-school Playgroup (£110) and Child Accident Prevention (£2595 and £520) be approved and grants awarded.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to:-

 Approve the interim arrangements for considering applications for and awarding from the Community Safety Fund; and

 Award grants to the following organisations;

Jersey Fire Service £3000

Communicare Pre-school Playgroup £110

Child Accident Prevention

Jersey a grant of £2595 and a grant of £520

Reason(s) for Decision

To allow small but important community safety initiatives to proceed.

Action Required

The sums to be disbursed to the relevant organisations.

Written by:	Alan Muir

Approved by:	Caroline Anderson, Director of Transport

ASM

19 June 2007