Town Council Blows Grants Budget after Handing out almost £20,000 in Grants Since April

Since the start of the council’s new financial year in April, Penrith Town Council has handed out almost £20,000 worth of grant funding to organisations delivering projects in Penrith with an almost £5,000 overspend already on its allocated £15,000 grants budget for 2024/25

As a result, the Council agreed to "top up" its grant budget, to make further funding available to support local community organisations, charities, Social Enterprises and Community Interest Companies deliver services, projects and events in Penrith. 

In 2023 town councillors handed delegated powers to council officers to award grants directly under delegated powers, rather than grant applications coming before the councillors for consideration and approval before award. The grant awards are now reported to the council at meetings after council officers have awarded the grant funding to applicants.

The grant funding handed out by the town council comes from the town council’s annual budget with £487,735 paid this year to the town council by council tax precept paid by households in Penrith. The town council agreed in January this year a £15,000 grants budget and a £20,000 Signature Grants budget that it uses to support bigger events in Penrith including £5,000 to the Winter Droving, £5,000 towards the Mayday event and in 2023 the council awarded £4,965.00 to Penrith BiD towards the Christmas lights event.

The grants handed out already this year by the town council have supported:

Meals on Wheels Cumbria - £2,500, That have started a new service delivering in Penrith.

Penrith Rugby Club, £3,000 for the installation of Solar Panels.

Penrith BID, £3,099, towards the Town Centre summer planting.

Eden Dodgeball Club, £575, to help deliver a new Under 15 years Dodgeball Group.

Bluejam Arts, £3,480 for a Family painting sessions that will run as a 1 year Project.

Wetheriggs Utd FC, £2,000, towards Clubhouse facility improvements.

Carleton Park Group, £5,000 towards a Multi-Use Games Area at Carleton Park.

At its meeting on Monday 15 July, the Council also considered a request from the Carleton Park Recreation Group for the Council to request the asset transfer of Carleton Park from Westmorland and Furness Council.

The Council agreed to support the request from the Carleton Park Recreation Group and will now ask Westmorland and Furness Council to consider transfer of ownership of Carleton Park to the Town Council.