Motion: Funding for Voluntary and Community Groups

That this Council notes the vital role community and voluntary groups across Fermanagh & Omagh play in supporting residents, reducing isolation, promoting wellbeing, and strengthening local communities; recognises that whilst some Council funding is made available for through annual grant schemes, demand routinely exceeds funding availability.

Notes that despite some appeals for the Council not to do so, during the rates setting process earlier this year an additional £400,000 was earmarked for an increase in Councillor allowances, and welcomes the fact that approximately £350,000 of that money is now projected not to be spent.

Recognises that as Councillors our priority first and foremost should be to the local community and ratepayers; and therefore, rather than this £350,000 only being transferred into reserves this Council agrees to proactively develop plans now that would see this funding delivered in full as an additional allocation to the regular level of funding that likely will available for our local community and voluntary groups in the upcoming annual call for grant aid.