Agenda item
SOUTH AND EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCILS PARTNERSHIP LOTTERY SCHEME
A report by Emily Spicer, Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership
Minutes:
DECISION
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Portfolio Holders and Officer
MG/ES
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REASON FOR DECISION
Councillor Martin Griggs Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities presented the report noting that the recommendations proposed the creation of a Community Lottery Scheme for the partner councils in S&ELCP which would enable additional funding to be raised for local community-based initiatives and in addition partnership opportunities with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in the sub-region of Lincolnshire. The initiative would enable the Partnership, through each of the partnership Councils, to support the priorities of local communities by working in partnership with our residents. The sub region of Lincolnshire has a thriving Voluntary and Community Sector, providing valuable services of support, advice and activities for their communities. These services significantly benefit the health and wellbeing of residents, providing opportunities for active citizenship and helping people meet their aspirations and live the lives that they want. Funding for these organisations and their services has often relied on external funding sources, either through small grant schemes or fundraising. Regrettably, over the past few years opportunities for fundraising activities have declined. At the same time demand on the sector has substantially increased, compounded by the impacts of Covid-19. Covid-19 has highlighted the critical importance of local government to their places and communities. Forging deep connections of understanding and relationship building, local government organisations are required to ensure community cohesion, resilience and community identity is nurtured, developed and well supported at a local level. With the ability to combine resources and deliver cross-cutting community responses, the S&ELCP is best placed to align resources to address common challenges which face our communities. For the Voluntary and Community Sector, seeking to address the funding challenges as a partnership will have greater impact. Each sovereign council of the S&ELCP has set out the importance of its communities within their individual corporate plans. Enabling the Voluntary and Community Sector further will in turn provide additional opportunities for the communities that they assist. In November 2015 Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) launched the very first LocalAuthority lottery. This was created directly in response to the pressure on the community funds budgets and to help the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) gain access to new funding streams. AVDC raised £70,000 for good causes in its first year of operation. AVDC use an External Lottery Manager (ELM) to administer the lottery on itsbehalf. There is no cost to the Council for this service, but the ELM is funded froma share of the ticket cost.
Other authorities have subsequently developed their ownlotteries based on a External Lottery Manager model including Essex County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Gloucester City Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Peterborough City Council, North Lincolnshire Council, South Kesteven District Council, Blaby District Council, Melton Borough Council, Mendip Borough Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, Chiltern District Council, South Northampton Council, Torbay Council, Wycombe District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, South Bucks District Council, Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council, South Staffordshire Council, Corby Borough Council, Hart District Council and Borough of Broxbourne. Gatherwell Ltd support of 90 local authority lotteries across the country including 4 in Lincolnshire. Establishing a Community Lottery Scheme across the S&ELCP could raise £119,376 annually to support our local communities. This is based on experiences in findings from other council areas and is a prudent estimation. There are a number of different External Lottery Managers in operation. Each provides a different model in relation to pricing, prize structures, and apportionment of the ticket price. If Members agree the development of a Community Lottery Scheme, South Holland District Council would, on behalf of the partnership;
a) contract with Gatherwell to provide external lottery management and b) apply for the appropriate license and memberships. |
OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
1) Not to establish a partnership lottery scheme 2) Deliver the lottery in-house
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RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None. |
RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED
None. |
Supporting documents: