This £1,000,000 one-off fund is to be used to invest in projects that support the delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy by building capacity in the community.
The process for this investment has been broken down into the following indicative phases:Programme Process Timeline
Phase 1 - Project Proposal Period
July 2011 - 30th September 2011
We have developed an Outcomes Framework which sets out the key community capacity outcomes which support delivery of our Sustainable Community Strategy.
Project Outline Proposals (POPs) were invited, and 75 were submitted by the deadline of 30th September 2011. The complete list can be found here or on the link of the left hand side of this page.
A workshop was held on 22nd September 2011 for those who had submitted POPs to clarify proposals, draw out common themes, identify any gaps and encourage collaboration. A full report on the workshop can be found here or under Related Documents on the right hand side of this page.
Phase 2 - Project Specification Period
1st October 2011 - 31st December 2011
Please note that submission of the POP form does not constitute part of any procurement process. The Council will use the Project Outline Proposal period to help inform and shape the project specifications for procurement under this Programme.
The Council reserves the right to move to procurement any aspect of the Programme earlier than the overall timetable suggests, if there are significant risks in delaying the delivery of the aims of the Programme.
Phase 3 - Project Procurement Period
Any procurement undertaken will be under the Council’s Contract Standing Orders and any other relevant policies.
Phase 4 - Project Delivery Period
Project delivery progress will be published on line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. The Performance Reward Programme
Q. What is the Performance Reward Grant Fund?
A. The Performance Reward Grant was awarded by central government for the work of the Council and partner organisations (working through the Local Strategic Partnership) in meeting challenging targets over the period 2007-2010.
The Performance Reward Grant Fund comprises
- The Small Grants Fund - £300,000
- The Main Fund - £1m
Q. How do I find out more about the Small Grants Fund?
A. Information about this (for grants up to £5,000) can be found here.
Q. What is the purpose of the Main Fund?
A. The purpose of the Main Fund is to build capacity in the community to improve our area in the longer term. The LSP created a document in 2009 called the Sustainable Community Strategy 2009-2026, which outlines the ambitions for improving the area. We have also broken this down into the specific outcomes for proposals for this fund to help you with ideas.
The Main Fund of the Performance Reward Programme is NOT open to receive any applications or bids for funding.
We are seeking outline project ideas which fit in with the published outcomes framework, as agreed by the Local Strategic Partnership.
These ideas may be used to inform the tender specifications for the procurement process which will start in 2012.
Any idea that is submitted will NOT guarantee that an organisation will receive funding to deliver the aims and objectives of the Performance Reward Programme.
Q. Does the Main Fund replace the Small Grants Fund?
A. No – the Small Grants Fund remains as a “quick” Fund involving simply an application and a decision. The Main Fund is currently at “Project Outline Proposal” stage which is designed to draw out ideas to deliver the outcomes.
2. Project Outline Proposals
Q. How many outcomes do I need to aim to meet in the POP?
A. The key to a good proposal is to meet one (or possibly more) of the outcomes in the Outcomes Framework. There is no real need to focus on more than one of the outcomes: proposals which clearly help to deliver one outcome are very welcome.
Q. What makes a ‘good’ proposal?
A. Try to be as specific as possible about delivering the Sustainable Community Strategy. Good proposals will:
- …be big, bold and innovative
- …help the community help itself
- …sustain itself in the long run
- …cut costs and make better use of resources
- …attract additional funding and support
The form also asks you to be clear about the problem the proposal is trying to fix, who will benefit from the proposal and how its success will be measured. We also ask how much money and other support the proposal may need, estimation of timescales and who else is involved. If you need us to help you speak to other partners and organisations please let us know and we will do our best to help.
Q. So if we submit a ‘good’ proposal, does that mean it will be funded?
A. No. We are currently in the pre-procurement phase. Procurement will begin early in 2012 after specifications, based on proposals, have been agreed. The tendering process will be open to all.
Q. Who can submit a proposal?
A. We are looking for proposals from every type of organisation: public (including parishes and local authorities), business, voluntary, community, etc.
Q. I need help in developing my proposal. Who do I talk to?
A. It’s best for you to talk to us as early as possible so we can “signpost” you to people who can help you. Please contact the Funding and Programmes Team cef@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone Susan Bowen (01225 477278) or John Whapshott (01225 477669)
Q. Will you accept proposals from 2 or more organisations working in collaboration?
A. Yes, this is positively encouraged. We would expect one of the organisations to act as the lead for the purposes of communications etc.
Q. Can proposals be for capital or revenue funding?
A. The Main Fund has access to both capital and revenue sums. Please try to be as clear as possible in your Proposal what you are looking for. Please refer to this document which explains this in more detail.
Q. What are the minimum and maximum sums for which we can submit a Project Outline Proposal (POP)?
A. The total value of the Main Fund is £1,000,000 which of course is the maximum size of any proposal. We envisage that proposals will not be less than £100,000.
Q. How long will a project be funded for?
A. This depends entirely on the sustainability of the project. A proposal for a project which needs funding for 10 years, but is sustainable for 20 years, is more likely to be procured than a proposal for a project which requires 4 years’ funding, after which it will cease.
So we are more interested in sustainable proposals than ones which will cease when the funding does.
3. Other questions
Q. Why is the Council publishing organisations’ details from their POP on its web site?
A. For two reasons: 1. To demonstrate complete openness and transparency in the whole process; 2. To enable groups who are proposing to meet similar Outcomes to discuss and co-ordinate their proposals.
Q. What is the workshop on the 22nd September about?
A. This Project Clarification Workshop is part of the pre-procurement stage. At this workshop we will build on the ideas we have received to shape what will be procured in 2012. Everyone who has submitted a POP will be invited to attend this event. If you are intending to submit a POP after this event and before 30th September then please let us know; if we are not made aware you will not be able to attend.
Q. What do you mean when you say “procure” and “procurement”? And how does “procurement” differ from “commissioning”?
A. Broadly speaking, commissioning involves establishing the strategy, defining outcomes, and identifying the resources required to achieve the outcomes.
Procurement, which may be required by the commissioning strategy, involves identifying the preferred delivery option and ensuring the goods, works or services arrive in the right place at the right time, at the right quality, in the right quantity and at the lowest whole life cost available in the marketplace.
Procurement is the way that Councils buy and obtain services. At the moment, we are asking for project proposals and ideas, before the Council decides what it wants to buy, When it decides this, it will then procure these services using these guidelines.