Source : Perth Now news
Political groups will not be eligible for funding under the Town of Cottesloe’s new community donations policy after the council deemed them too “divisive” to be funded by ratepayers.
The council voted last week to unanimously endorse a draft community partnership policy to replace the old donations policy, which was adopted in 2004.
Community organisations, non-profits, incorporated associations, sporting clubs and organisations delivering programs or events benefitting the wider Cottesloe community are all eligible for funding.
Private individuals, commercial groups and political organisations are not.
The new policy will be released for public feedback over a 28-day period. A final copy will then be presented for the council to consider in November.
Historically, the town’s grant funding process has supported several well-established events in Cottesloe, offering one-off financial support for organisations. A council report said this could limit the town’s ability to respond to smaller, time-sensitive community opportunities.
The new policy is expected to provide opportunities to “diversify funding” across a broader range of recipients, improve accessibility and offer more ongoing collaboration with organisations.
Cr Lorraine Young said it was a “really sound” draft policy, but she wanted to ensure the town’s resources were definitely directed to community-building organisations, not political entities.
The council voted unanimously to support her amendment, which specified the policy would not apply to “entities whose primary purpose is the promotion of contested public policy outcomes”.
“My proposed amendment underscores that positive direction by ensuring that ratepayer funds and town resources — which are paid for out of rates — are directed to positive community-building collaborations and partnerships rather than to entities or projects that, by their very nature, are likely to be divisive,” Cr Young said.
“If we don’t have this wording, we may get applications from entities or in respect of activities focused on contested public policy and the staff will have to make the call about whether they should recommend such a project or initiative, or whether they should reject it.
“So the inclusion of this wording will help our staff by keeping them out of making tricky political calls.”
She said the policy wouldn’t deny a voice to groups wanting to promote public policy arguments, but it shouldn’t be funded by ratepayers.
The policy encompasses financial grants, donations, sponsorship arrangements and waiving or reducing town fees. It also permits in-kind support, meaning goods or services in place of money, and the use of town facilities and equipment.
Requests for retrospective funding would not be allowed.
The town already approved $18,000 in its 2026-27 budget for community donations and grants. Additional funding would not be sought under the new policy, but existing funds would be more strategically administered.
If the draft policy is approved in November, the inaugural community partnership program will open for applications on January 1, 2027, for four weeks.
Funding recommendations would be presented to the council in February and successful applicants would deliver their projects by June 30.
