Primed for a cut in funding?

PRIMING grants for local groups such as residents associations and voluntary groups could be hit if future local government funding is cut due to the performance of the household charge, according to Ennis town manager, Ger Dollard.

PRIMING grants for local groups such as residents associations and voluntary groups could be hit if future local government funding is cut due to the performance of the household charge, according to Ennis town manager, Ger Dollard.
Speaking at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Mr Dollard outlined the €100 household charge is being utilised to “fill the gap” in local authority funding.
While there are no figures available detailing the number of payments made in Ennis, indications from Clare County Council suggest that Clare is among the “upper echelons” in terms of collection, Mr Dollard stated.
He insisted there are “no indications at this stage” of what effect not having full compliance in householders paying the charge will have on the funding of the town council.
However, in a later debate on the possibility of reviewing the criteria for priming grants, Mr Dollard stated that if the level of collection of the housing grant does not meet Government expectations and cuts are made to local government funding, the council’s discretionary funding, such as priming grants, would be assessed.
“These priming grants are something that Ennis Town Council is very supportive of but if the funding is not there, these are the type of areas that tend to be hit,” he stated.
He was speaking as councillors debated a motion by Councillor Johnny Flynn calling for a review of the payment for environmental priming grants. He urged that the grants reflect the scale of the green spaces to be maintained by use of the number of houses involved and suggested a standard figure such as €20 per house.
Councillor Flynn stated that the grant was something that encouraged respect for the town. However, he argued that it is unfair an estate of eight houses can be awarded the same grant as a much larger estate in the town.
“Some estates around the town have massive green areas that aren’t just used by the residents of that estate,” he told the meeting.
Councillor Tommy Brennan stated some estates in the town get no grant funding and their areas are maintained by developers or residents themselves. Councillor Frankie Neylon argued that €20 per house “seems a lot” for large estates while Councillor Michael Guilfoyle pointed out the estimates have already been agreed, although he agreed with the spirit of the motion.
Councillor Peter Considine stated there were certainly some estates in the town that need to be assessed.
Responding to the notice of motion, town clerk Leonard Cleary outlined the Environmental Priming Grant Scheme was revised in late 2011 by Ennis Town Council. In addition to the original grant of €300, this revision introduced a higher grant of €600 for larger estates.
The purpose of the grant is to allow the council to contribute financially to local groups such as residents associations and action groups that carry out environmental works in their housing estates.
Any group carrying out local environmental work can apply for grant aid and each application will be considered on its own merit.
A maximum grant of €300 is payable, subject to submission of receipted expenditure of at least €600. A proportionate grant will be paid where expenditure is less than €600. In the case of an estate with 175 houses or more, a maximum grant of €600 is payable, subject to submission of receipted expenditure of at least €1,200.
Mr Cleary said grass cutting is carried out by Ennis Town Council in council estates only and some grass areas on approach roads in the town. In general, grass cutting is the responsibility of residents in private estates.
When the council takes over finished estates, it does not include grass cutting. Most estates arrange to collect a contribution from residents for the cost of community environmental projects such as flower/shrub/tree planting, grass cutting and maintenance.
“This contribution is very important in achieving a sense of ownership by residents of their estates. The Ennis Town Council Environmental Priming Grant scheme is designed to support and build on existing resident voluntary participation in estate environmental projects and not to displace them.
“The budget for priming grants for 2012 has already been adopted by council as part of deliberations on the 2012 budget. Any changes to the priming grant scheme would need to be budget neutral.
“It is difficult to see how this could be achieved within the parameters of the motion. A costing of the impacts of the motion would need to be prepared and considered as part of a future budgetary process.
“The council will continue to actively work with and support residents’ groups within the overall resources available. ­Residents’ associations are encouraged to liase closely with Ennis Tidy Towns Committee and to contact the Environment Section of Ennis Town Council for information of the various initiatives and broader supports available. Current examples include Spring Clean 2012 and National Tree Week.”
Mr Dollard told councillors a redistribution of funding could lead to difficulties but that the local authority will look into the merits of a review.