3 minute read
SES survives proposed funding cut
Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au
A COUNCIL plan to cut annual grants for the Chelsea and Moorabbin SES units has been stopped.
Kingston Council’s grant policy and guidelines have been under review this year. Its new policy came to council for final approval at a meeting on Monday. At the same time, council officers recommended that a “staged funding reduction” should start for some recipients of 2021-2024 partnership grants.
The News understands that Chelsea SES and Moorabbin SES were two of the organisations proposed to be affected by the cuts. At a meeting on Monday night, 20 November, councillors voted to continue providing money to the SES until 2027.
Dozens of SES volunteers in orange uniforms packed the Kingston Council gallery at the meeting to show support. Chelsea SES controller Ron Fitch said that the outcome was a big win.
“This is a fantastic result, not only for our SES volunteers, but for the entire community within the City of Kingston. We look forward to the promised consultation with council for the ongoing funding of our SES unit,” Fitch said.
Chelsea SES deputy controller Phil Wall thanked councillors Georgina Oxley, Tamsin Bearsley, and David Eden for their “fantastic support, throughout this important issue, and for their recognition and appreciation of the work that the SES do every day”. Oxley said “the SES provides such an integral support to our community in their times of need. Be it missing persons, storm damage, fire, or even flood - the SES answer the call. I’m so glad that council was able to support these incredible volunteers with funding until 2027 while we work through an ongoing funding model.”
Councillors still approved the staged spending reduction for 20212024 partnership grant recipients where the amount funded in the 2024-2027 operational and partnership grant is reduced more than 25 per cent, or an amount of $10,000. A late addition to the motion saw the Chelsea and Moorabbin SES units singled out for the extension of their current funding model. The new grant policy was also approved on Monday. Kingston Council’s new grants model will see grants separated into five streams from 1 January next year - operational and partnership, community bi-annual, community small, individual development, and community festivals, events, and creative activities.
A report prepared by Kingston Council officers read that the new grants program would allow more people to apply. “The previous grants program had been in place for over 15 years without review. Without having delivered a cycle of the new program it is not possible to provide a definitive impact on community organisations and groups,” it read. “Funding opportunities have increased for some cohorts, namely artists and applications for community festivals, events and creative activities.
“It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of new organisations and groups able to apply for funding. For example, there are currently 45 multicultural and seniors groups funded through the partnership grants, however there are approximately 80 groups that would be eligible for funding through the operational and partnership grants under the new model.”
Kingston councillors have also agreed to consult with the SES to discuss funding options after 2027, and to write to the state government advocating for increased support.
