Area Committee process, timetable and how to submit an outline proposal

Area Committee Funding Process

The annual Area Committee funding process is divided into 3 stages:

Stage 1: Identifying local priorities

  • Conversations to identify local priorities
  • Stage 1 forms submitted
  • Surgeries held between councillors and BCC officers
  • Community and councillor prioritisation
  • First formal meeting
  • Invitations to submit full stage 2 proposals

Stage 2: Proposal development and decision making

  • Full proposals developed by delivery body (community group or BCC department)
  • Full proposals submitted
  • BCC technical assessment
  • Second formal meeting
  • Make funding decisions

Stage 3: Grant management and delivery

  • Funding agreements drawn up and funding transferred to community groups
  • Projects delivered
  • 6-monthly progress updates
  • End of project monitoring

Area Committee funding process 2023 to 2024

Outline Area Committee funding process

Stage 1: April to October 2023

  • Neighbourhood priorities identified, April to May 2023
  • Stage 1 outline proposals submitted, by end of 26 May 2023
  • Viability discussions, June and July 2023
  • Shortlisting of outline proposals, early August to September 2023
  • Stage 1 proposals prioritised and shortlisted by 18 September
  • 2023 Invitations to submit full stage 2 proposals, by end of October 2023

Stage 2 Mid October 2023 to February 2024

  • Full stage 2 project proposals submitted in December and early January, deadlines by Area Committee will be communicated to applicants
  • Technical assessment of project proposals
  • Funding decisions made by councillors at Area Committee meetings in February 2024
  • Funding decisions communicated by end February 2024

Stage 3 March to April 2024

  • Funding agreements drawn up, March 2024
  • Funds transferred and community projects begin delivery, April 2024

Council departments, such as Parks and Transport, typically work to delivery schedules for Area Committee-funded projects which can be between 1 and 3 years from the point of funding approval.

Timetable 2023 to 2024

View  pdf  Area Committee funding timetable 2023 to 2024 (160 KB) .

How to submit a Stage 1 form

More information will be available when funding process starts again in January 2025.

How to submit a Stage 2 full project proposal

We will contact all applicants who're invited to Stage 2 to develop a full project proposal. The forms will be shared by email.

To complete your proposal, check the pdf guidance document (421 KB) .

For guidance on creating a good Equalities Impact Assessment: