Issue - meetings

To provide an overview of the South and East Lincolnshire Council’s Community Lottery Scheme (report of the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director for Communities and Housing Services which provided an overview of the South and East Lincolnshire Council’s Community Lottery Scheme.

The Group Manager for Community Leadership and the Assistant Director for Communities and Housing Services attended for this item.

The Group Manager for Community Leadership introduced the report and highlighted the following main points:

·         The Community Lottery Scheme had been in operation for nearly three years and the report provided members with an overview of annual activity and performance across the partnership;

·         £91,485 had been raised for good causes across the partnership;

·         36 good causes were registered in South Holland, with £5,923 raised locally;

·         Measures were in place to mitigate problem gambling; and

·         Quarterly returns were submitted to the Gambling Commission to ensure compliance.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

·         Members welcomed the scheme and noted its value in supporting local organisations.

·         Members asked for clarification of the criteria used to approve good causes and queried whether such causes were reviewed to ensure they remained active.

o   The Group Manager for Community Leadership responded that:

§  Charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and social enterprises were eligible. Parish councils were exempt. Approval was based on submitted paperwork; and

§  Causes were allowed to run once approved, with annual checks in place. Inactive causes were removed.

·         Members suggested improved communication to raise awareness of the scheme and queried if promotional case studies had been shared.

o   The Group Manager for Community Leadership responded that:

§  Information was circulated at funding fairs and physical leaflets were available for distribution to community groups. Materials would be circulated to councillors; and

§  Case studies had been posted on social media, with care taken around the gambling aspect.

·         Members asked how charities received their donations.

o   The Group Manager for Community Leadership confirmed payments were made monthly to bank accounts.

Agreed:

That the progress of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Community Lottery scheme be noted.