Donations Policy
PARISH COUNCIL DONATIONS POLICY
From time to time the Parish Council receives requests from outside bodies, charities etc. for a donation to a particular cause.
The purpose of this document is to formulate Council Policy on this matter thereby ensuring that our response to such requests is both legal and consistent.
On receipt of such a request, the Council will initially determine whether it has the power to spend council funds for the particular purpose involved and the Clerk will advise accordingly.
If no specific power exists recourse will be made to S.137 Local Government Act 1972. Under this provision, the Council may incur expenditure which in its opinion is in the interests of and will bring direct benefit to, the area or any part of it, or all or some of its residents.
S.137 cannot be used to benefit just one person so awards to individuals cannot be accommodated.
Similarly, any benefit to the area or the inhabitants must be commensurate with the proposed expenditure.
Once a power has been established, Councillors will have to decide whether a donation is actually appropriate and should generally consider the following matters:-
- The state of Council finances
- Is the request from a bona fide organisation
- What is the actual benefit to the village or its inhabitants
- Is the request likely to be repeated or be regularly made
- Does the proposed facility etc. already exist within the village
- Does the proposed facility etc. complement or otherwise Parish Council Plans
- In the case of S.137 expenditure, are all the other requirements of that provision fully met.’
Updated and adopted by East Keal Parish Council at the meeting held on 15.9.21.