Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director.

Members considered a report of the Assistant Town Clerk/Culture Mile Director in respect of the recommendations for applications received under the Inspiring London through Culture funding stream, as part of the City Corporation Central Grants Programme.

Officers confirmed that all applicants were advised on how to become a volunteer/charity or limited company and were directed to organisations which would be able to assist them.  They are also advised as to the kind of grants they would or would not be eligible for. 

The application from the Amos Trust was rejected. However, Members expressed their high regard for the past work of the Charity and requested that this feedback be given and a future application, with different content, be encouraged in a later round. 

In response to a question about Dr Johnson’s House, Members noted that one of the two programmes for funding was ineligible as it was educational in nature. Therefore, the grant awarded was below the level applied for.  The other issue noted was the House’s level of reserves, which are outside of the Charity Commission’s Best Practice Guidelines. 

Once Members had taken the decision, as set out below*, a Member, also the City Governor appointed to Dr Johnson House Trust, commented that the majority of the reserves of the House were in fact a legacy designated for curatorial purposes, and that income from reserves provided an important fraction of overall running costs.

RESOLVED, that

1.     The Central Grants Programme assessment process and budget be noted.

2.     The recommendations as set out in Appendix 2 to the report; ie:

a)     Amos Trust – rejected.

b)     City Music Foundation for £7,500

c)     Dr Johnsons House Trust Ltd for £1,500

d)     Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace for £7,500

e)     Huguenots of Spitalfield for £7,750

f)       Open City Architecture for £6,000

g)     Quaker Court TMO for £3,500

h)     Safer Places for £2,992

i)       St Botolph, Aldgate for £7,500

j)       Thames Festival Trust for £7,500

k)     The De Morgan Foundation for £7,600