A desire for more external funding for community
initiatives and acknowledgement of revenue pressures are
behind a major change to one of Hamilton City Council’s
funding policies.
Elected Members have opted to amend
Council’s External Funding Policy to permit the
organisation to make funding applications to Class 4
Gambling Trusts in partnership with another organisation and
where the project delivers community outcomes.
Council
will consider the equity and community benefit of any
applications that involve Gambling Trust funds. The amended
policy will be reviewed in three years, or the next time
Council balances the books, whichever occurs
sooner.
“Previously this policy had restricted the
way we work with community organisations to deliver benefit
for the community. For example, the policy has prevented
community organisations like sports clubs from using Class 4
Gambling Trust funds to deliver improvements like
floodlighting at their club grounds, because Council owns
the asset,” City Investment Director Anita McKegg
said.
Gambling Trusts are legally required to give 40%
of their proceeds back to the community, which they do by
funding a range of community projects.
Council is
facing a significant balancing the books deficit as it
prepares to release its draft 2024-34 Long-Term Plan budget.
The change to the External Funding Policy was a tough but
necessary call in the face of severe financial constraints,
said Committee Chair Kesh Naidoo-Rauf.
“The fact is
we need to explore every avenue for additional revenue,
especially funds for initiatives that provide benefit to
Hamiltonians. This is a way for us to meet community needs,
and see these funds go back to our vulnerable
communities.
“Given the economic
environment we’re in, we’re going to have to make some
hard decisions. Those proceeds are being generated in
Hamilton, and they’re being spent in communities
elsewhere. I want to see some benefit given
back.”
A further two policies outline
the restrictions on venues that provide gambling machines or
sports betting services in the city. Both policies have
operated under a ‘sinking lid’ approach, where no new
venues can be established.
Council sought community
feedback in July and August, proposing to continue these
policies without changes. There were 55 submissions on this
consultation, from both individuals and
organisations.
Class 4 Gambling Venues
Policy
This policy outlines the rules and
restrictions for venues with gambling machines in Hamilton
Kirikiriroa. The committee voted to continue the policy
without changes.
Feedback from the community on this
policy was mixed. 37% of respondents supported Council’s
proposal to continue without changes. Of the respondents
that did not support the proposal, commentary was split with
11 respondents saying the policy was too restrictive, and 12
it wasn’t restrictive enough.
TAB Venues
Policy
This policy regulates venues that
provide racing betting or sports betting services. The
Community and Natural Environment Committee resolved to
continue the policy without changes, which was supported by
most respondents in the
consultation.