Why we're consulting

On May 15, 2023, the council passed a motion to consolidate all Community Grant Funding and Memorandums of Understanding into an annual process aligned with the development of the budget, effective January 2024.

In response, the Draft Community Funding Request Policy has been developed, consolidating all community funding requests into a single annual opportunity for eligible applicants to seek funding. The policy emphasises principles of accountability, transparency, and equity, and includes governance and fraud prevention measures.

The accompanying Draft Community Funding Request Guidelines outline funding categories, eligibility, conditions, submission process and assessment criteria.

We are now seeking feedback on both documents.

Document Library

Background information

The council frequently receives funding requests from community groups and organisations. The draft Community Funding Request Policy is designed to establish a structured framework for managing these requests, with a focus on ensuring consistency, equity, and transparency in the budget submission process. This framework is intended to facilitate well-informed decision-making by the council, with an emphasis on prioritising community needs and achieving value for money.

The draft policy is aligned with the council's strategic priorities. Applicants are required to categorise their projects into one of four categories: Sustainable and Forward-looking Communities, Healthy, Safe, and Resilient Communities, Connected and Engaged Communities and Thriving and Vibrant Communities. These categories mirror the council's defined pillars within the Council Plan 2021-2025.

Both the draft policy and draft guidelines emphasise a commitment to following the recommended best practices outlined in the Fraud Control Over Local Government Grants report published by the Victorian Auditor General's Office (VAGO Report). Additionally, they demonstrate adherence to the statutory obligations specified in the Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020.

The draft policy, in conjunction with community guidelines, will provide direction to staff, councillors, and applicants for the efficient allocation of funds to address community needs. This approach aims to optimise the impact of community investments while adhering to principles of accountability, transparency, and financial stewardship.

The aim is to have the policy adopted in December, in preparation for the 2024-2025 budget consultation period.

Ways to have your say

This consultation is open from Wednesday, October 18 to Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Anyone who lives, works, studies or invests in Wodonga or visits the municipality and uses the facilities, is invited to review the information provided, ask questions and provide feedback during this time.

Ways to provide feedback