Community funding goes on Auckland Council’s agenda

On-going sources of funding are a primary concern for local community groups, many of which have already approached the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board seeking reassurances about Council funding.

Auckland Council has drafted an interim funding model for community groups, for the next financial year.

The model is being discussed with all local boards and their feedback will form part of the final recommendations, which will go to the Regional Development and Operations Committee this month 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,” forum chair Cathy Casey says. “Legacy councils have awarded amounts in the past from $100 to around $5000 so all sorts of groups and projects are catered for.”

About $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.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt says the board has not discussed the issue of funding for community groups yet, but she anticipates that the priorities will be to obtain as much funding as possible and to ensure it is distributed in an equitable way.

“Funding, or lack of funding, has certainly been a concern that has come up regularly as an issue during our engagement process,” Mrs Parfitt says.