NEWS DESK
Grant changes proposed Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au
COVID-19 hasn’t stopped the Frankston Dolphins from posting a good financial result. Picture: Yanni
Dolphins declare debts paid, post surplus IN 2016 the Frankston Dolphins looked dead and buried after going into administration and being booted from the VFL. Six years on, the club is completely debt free and posting healthy surpluses. The Frankston VFL side released its annual report for 2021 last month. The report revealed that the club posted a surplus of just more than $400,000 last year. In the report, club treasurer James van Beek confirmed that the club had officially paid all its debts, thanks in part to a $270,000 government grant received because of a COVID-19 lockdown. He said that the board has
agreed to direct the grant funding to the repayment of the club’s ATO debt. “As of 1 November 2021, the club had repaid in full the $286,964 that was still owing 12 months ago. In another major coup for the club, the provisions of the deed of company arrangement entered on 17 November 2016 have been satisfied in full and a final dividend has been paid as advised by Worrells on 13 April 2021.” “The debts of the club as at the commencement of the deed, have been extinguished due to the operation of the deed. The conduct of the club in its totality is now passed back to the board of the club. The club no longer has to
use ‘subject to a deed of company arrangement’ in its correspondences,” he said. “With the club now back under the control of the board of management and with all outstanding debt repaid we now look forward to maintaining the momentum we achieved in the first half of last season both on-field and off-field. In 2022 we start on our journey to be respected as the benchmark club in the VFL competition, building a culture of winning with humility, consistently playing finals football, be a destination club for future young stars whilst creating the framework for financial sustainability.” Brodie Cowburn
A EXTRA $214,000 will be set aside for council’s annual grants next year if proposed changes to the program are approved. Frankston Council will publicly exhibit a new structure for its annual grants program soon. The extra funding proposed by council officers in the draft policy would be allocated for in the 2022/2023 budget. The proposal would see annual grant program funding rise in 2022/2023 to $751,664, a net increase of $214,274 from the year prior. Despite the overall rise in grant spending, the changes would also see grant funding cut for one regular recipient. Funding to the Frankston Toy Library is proposed to be slashed from a little more than $25,000 a year to $15,000. Cr Steven Hughes took issue with the cut in funding to the Toy Library. He, alongside Cr Liam Hughes, voted against the item because they disagreed with the funding cut. The report prepared by council officers read that the funding cut would likely impact the Toy Library’s staffing numbers and opening hours. “The Toy Library has indicated that if this funding were to be reduced, the impact on its operations would likely result in reduced opening hours and reduction of current 3-4 employed casual staff,” the report read. “It was also reported that a reduction in service (days open) may also result in a reduction of membership. The pandemic has already resulted in a
significant loss in their membership, a decrease of 400 members. Other sources of income such as fundraising has been limited due to COVID-19.” Cr Kris Bolam said that the Toy Library occupies an “enormous amount of space” at its site on Ebdale Street “paying zero rent, and we are still giving them a contribution.” “They are getting a rent-free space and a $15,000 contribution, they’re doing pretty well,” he said. Other proposed changes to the community grants program include the establishment of a panel featuring community members, councillor representatives, and subject matter experts to assess the grants, and the allocation of higher score/weighting to applicants who have unsuccessfully applied for grants in the two years prior to their current application. The proposed changes will now be publicly exhibited before coming back to council again in June.
CHANGES to Frankston Council’s annual grants program are being discussed. Picture: Gary Sissons
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SHARN COOMBES LIBERAL FOR DUNKLEY
Standing strong, fighting for our community Authorised by Sam McQuestin, Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division), L12, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000 Frankston Times
1 March 2022
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