Bathurst Council Revamps Community Support Strategy
The Bathurst city council has revised its community support protocol, introducing a new policy to enhance clarity and transparency in resource allocation through grants, donations, and sponsorships. This policy amendment aims to refine the process for applicants, offering them a structured framework to submit their requests.
Under the updated policy, applicants can now submit their requests within one of three distinct categories. Each category comes with specific guidelines and deadlines that the council and city staff are committed to following. This categorization is designed to streamline the application process and ensure equitable distribution of municipal funds.
Amy Lynn Parker, the council clerk, emphasized the necessity for this policy revision due to a surge in donation requests that did not align with previous submission deadlines. “The need for a revised policy arose from the continuous influx of donation requests, which called for a more organized approach,” she remarked. This change aims to prevent off-schedule requests and improve procedural efficiency.
The council has established a dedicated committee responsible for receiving, discussing, and evaluating the various funding requests. This committee plays a pivotal role in preparing detailed reports, which serve as the basis for council discussions. Recently, the frequency of such requests has required the council to engage in almost weekly deliberations.
By setting clear deadlines and guidelines, the revised policy seeks to alleviate the frequent discussions at council meetings and provide a more consistent approach to addressing community needs. The council is hopeful that this revamped strategy will foster a transparent system that benefits both the applicants and the community at large.