Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Section 298 Programmes of Expenditure
Safer Streets Programme
2014-15 to 2016-17
GUIDELINES FOR FUNDING
ROUND ONE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTION
3
2
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND KEY PRINCIPLES
3
3
ELIGIBILITY
3
3.1 What projects will be eligible?
3
3.2 Projects not eligible for funding
4
4
4
FUNDING PERIOD AND GRANT LIMITS
4.1 Grant Funding
4
4.2 Priority Areas for Funding
5
4.3 Funding Of Capital Items Other Than Security-Related Infrastructure
5
5
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
5
6
SELECTION CRITERIA
7
7
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
7
8
MANAGING THE PROJECT
8
9
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
9
10
PRIVACY
9
11
COMPLAINTS MECHANISM
10
12
FURTHER INFORMATION
10
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 2 of 10)
1.
INTRODUCTION
The Safer Streets Programme implements the Government’s $50 million commitment to deliver
effective solutions to local crime hot spots and anti-social behaviour through a grants programme
focused on retail, entertainment and commercial precincts. The programme will ensure needed local
infrastructure can be rolled out in crime hot spots to prevent, deter and detect crime. The programme
will enhance community safety, particularly around retail, entertainment and commercial precincts,
which will improve security and reduce street crime and violence, leading to a reduction in the fear of
crime in the Australian community and greater community resilience and well-being.
A first tranche of funding of $19.3 million under the programme will be provided for projects across
150 locations as announced prior to October 2013. The Australian Government will invite identified
organisations to apply for funding assistance for projects relating to specific commitments that support
security enhancements such as better lighting, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and mobile CCTV in local
crime hot spots in at-risk communities across Australia.
A further funding round will be held and provide eligible organisations the opportunity to apply for
funding for:
•
Projects for the purchase of and installation of CCTV and other security related infrastructure, and
•
Projects that target anti-social and unlawful behaviour.
The timing of the second funding round has not been finalised.
The Safer Streets Programme is being conducted as a crime prevention measure under section 298 of
the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
2.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND KEY PRINCIPLES
The Safer Streets Programme aims to improve community safety and security, both in real terms and
in perceptions of community safety, and reduce street crime and violence. This will reduce fear of
crime in the Australian community and contribute to greater community resilience and well-being.
The Safer Streets Programme provides non-recurrent funding for one-off, time-limited crime
prevention projects.
Projects must:
•
address the priorities of the programme, and
•
establish performance measures to assess the impact of the project.
Information that may assist organisations installing CCTV cameras is available from the Australian
Institute of Criminology (AIC). In particular, the publication Considerations for establishing a public
space CCTV network sets out a number of factors that should be taken into account when undertaking
a project to install CCTV.
The report is available from the AIC at
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/rip/1-10/08.html.
Information about projects previously funded the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 can be found at
www.crimeprevention.gov.au.
3.
3.1
ELIGIBILITY
What projects will be eligible?
The target group for funding under the first funding round under the Safer Streets Programme is
organisations that were identified before October 2013 to deliver specific commitments.
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 3 of 10)
The identified organisations will be invited by the Attorney-General’s Department to submit an
application for funding in May 2014.
Grant applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate the need for improved security due to crime
and anti-social behaviour affecting local communities, in particular local retail, entertainment and
commercial precincts.
Only those organisations previously identified and invited are eligible to apply for funding under Round
One.
3.2
Projects not eligible for funding
Projects that are not eligible for funding include those that:
•
have not been invited to apply for funding
•
are not consistent with the programme’s requirement for successful delivery of the project, or
•
do not comply with Australian Government policy.
Funding will not be provided for the following purposes:
•
an applicant organisation’s ongoing operation or running costs (however, such costs will be
considered for the funding period if directly and exclusively associated with the proposed project)
•
retrospective or deficit funding (that is, reimbursement of expenses incurred by an organisation
prior to grant funds being approved, or meeting existing debts)
•
projects that have already commenced under other funding arrangements or programmes
(however, funding will be considered for a new direction or enhancement of an existing project)
•
large-scale capital equipment and capital works, including the purchase or lease of land and/or
purchase, construction or maintenance of buildings and vehicles (but assistance may be granted at
the discretion of the Minister based on the size/capacity of the organisation and the size/impact of
the project)
•
any development costs associated with an application (for example, preparation of applications,
the cost of a survey to establish the need for a project, and costs of obtaining permits and
approvals to facilitate implementation)
•
travel to conferences
•
fundraising or sponsorship
•
individual scholarships
•
projects that provide personal protection for specific individuals, or
•
organisations which have not fulfilled previous grant requirements including acquittal reports and
evaluations, or organisations or projects previously defunded by State or Territory or Australian
Government agencies for performance and/or integrity reasons.
4.
4.1
FUNDING PERIOD AND GRANT LIMITS
Grant Funding
Grant funding under this round of the programme is:
•
provided through a targeted funding round
•
limited to the amount of funding already committed by the Australian Government
•
non-recurrent, and
•
conditional upon projects being completed by 30 June 2017.
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 4 of 10)
The final amount of any grant awarded will be at the discretion of the Minister for Justice after
consideration of advice from the Attorney-General’s Department.
The number of grants awarded will depend upon the quality of applications received and whether the
project aligns with the Government’s Policy to Tackle Crime.
4.2 Priority Areas for Funding
Funding under Round One is available for projects identified prior to October 2013 that enhance the
safety and security of the community through the installation of improved lighting and CCTV.
Applicants must:
•
•
•
•
establish that communities identified in their application are at risk of vandalism and property
crime and have special security needs and/or that members of the community face harassment
and risks to their personal safety
demonstrate how the proposed project would address the identified risks and security needs
demonstrate that they possess the capacity to cover any ongoing costs associated with the
security infrastructure being applied for (as funding under this programme is non-recurrent), and
demonstrate that the project represents good value for money.
As funding is non-recurrent, the application should include a clear completion strategy for the
proposed project. The strategy should set out what will happen to the project activity at the end of
the funding period. For a security-related infrastructure project this would include arrangements to
fund continued operation.
Organisations will need to secure alternative sources of funding if they wish projects to continue
beyond the duration of the grant.
Where an organisation makes an application for security-related infrastructure, such as a CCTV system,
it should indicate its willingness and capacity to operate and maintain the system in accordance with
applicable security and privacy policies and legislation for the project.
Priority areas for further funding rounds have not yet been finalised.
4.3 Funding Of Capital Items Other Than Security-Related Infrastructure
Funding for other capital items may be considered if they are integral to the effectiveness of the
project. Such capital items include computers, presentation equipment, videos and televisions.
However, funding for such items will be limited and applications should demonstrate why these items
are needed and how they will be used. Applications should note whether necessary approvals are
required (such as licences or permits, etc.).
Projects involving significant capital works need to demonstrate why this component is integral to the
overall project and how it supports the proposed community-based activities.
Proposals for capital items under this sub-heading should generally not make up more than 50 per cent
of the project budget.
Large-scale capital equipment and capital works, including the purchase or lease of land and/or
purchase, construction or maintenance of buildings, will not be funded.
5.
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
All completed applications for grants must be lodged through the Department’s online application
process. Applications will be registered on lodgement and applicants will be provided with a receipt
number which should be used in all future correspondence with the Department about the
application.
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 5 of 10)
Incomplete applications will not be assessed.
The use of public money may only occur in accordance with the financial framework that governs the
expenditure of funds by the Government. The grant programme will be administered in accordance
with the Commonwealth Grants Guidelines.
Before approving any grant expenditure, the Minister must be satisfied that a spending proposal is an
efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of public money and that it is not inconsistent with
government policies.
The required information includes:
•
details and credentials of the organisation (to demonstrate the capacity of the organisation to
successfully manage a crime prevention project and administer crime prevention grant funds)
•
details of the project
•
the need for the project and its intended long-term crime prevention benefits
•
financial information including quotations, cost estimates and budgets (to determine value for
money)
•
project timeframes (including identification of key milestones and the proportion of project
funding for each milestone)
•
project delivery information including project and business plans
•
statutory and other approvals required if relevant to the project (for example, planning
approvals or permits), and
•
a project evaluation framework, including appropriate performance measures to assess the
impact of the project.
Project proposals will be assessed by the Department to determine:
•
the value for money, including efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of public money,
and
•
the crime prevention benefits and the capacity of the organisation to manage a project and
grant funds.
The Department will undertake an initial review of all applications received to confirm they comply
with the eligibility requirements of the program. It may contact applicants for clarification or to
discuss any aspect of the proposal, as necessary.
Following an assessment of each project proposal, the Department will make recommendations to the
Minister for Justice who will decide on the allocation of funding. The Minister’s decision is final.
Successful applicants will be notified in writing and may be announced by the Minister. Unsuccessful
applicants will also be notified in writing and feedback will be available on request.
The Department will negotiate a Funding Agreement with successful applicants based on the project
proposal and the amount of funding awarded. The Funding Agreement will set out the terms and
conditions under which the funding is to be provided.
Funding is not assured until a Funding Agreement has been executed by both parties and successful
applicants should not enter into any financial commitments for their projects until a Funding
Agreement is in place.
Successful organisations will be listed on the departmental website, www.ag.gov.au/crimeprevention,
and listed in the Department’s grants register.
This funding programme may be terminated at any time.
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 6 of 10)
6.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The assessment of projects will be based on the following selection criteria and weighting of
assessment scores:
Weighting
Eligibility Criteria
Pass/Fail
eligibility of the applicant organisation – as identified prior to October 2013
Pass/Fail
eligibility of the proposed project – its consistency with the programme’s key
objectives and principles
Applications that do not pass the eligibility criteria will not be assessed any further.
Weighting Selection Criteria
25%
demonstrated need for, and the potential impact of, the proposed project.
25%
consistency with proven good practice in crime prevention, including demonstrating
the link between the project’s key interventions and the likely community safety and
crime prevention benefits of the project, and the enduring value or ongoing benefits
of the project to the community*
20%
financial information including quotations, cost estimates and budgets and the overall
value for money of the project
10%
organisational ability to collect data to measure the impact and success of the project
and the range of data to be collected
10%
organisational capacity of the applicant organisation (including the financial viability of
the organisation, demonstrated capacity to successfully manage the project and
demonstrated capacity to administer grant funds)
10%
organisational ability to manage risks associated with the proposed activity
*Refer Section 2 Programme Objectives and Key Principles for information that may assist organisations installing
CCTV.
7.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
The closing date for applications is 2pm (Eastern Standard Time) on Thursday, 12 June 2014. Early
submission of applications is encouraged. Funding decisions are expected to be made at the end of
June 2014 for projects to commence in July 2014.
It is the responsibility of the applicant organisation to submit a clear and complete application which is
lodged on or before the closing date. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.
The Attorney-General’s Department is not able to assist organisations with the cost of applying for
grants. Applicants are responsible for all the costs of preparing and lodging their application and for
the costs of answering the Department’s requests for more information or clarification.
The Department is able to provide limited telephone or email assistance to applicants with queries
about completing the application form. For probity reasons, the Department will not be able to
provide specific advice on how to write your proposal.
Application kits and other information on the Safer Streets Programme can be downloaded from
www.crimeprevention.gov.au. Alternatively you can call (02) 6141 2711 or email your request for the
kit to [email protected].
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 7 of 10)
Applications must be:
•
•
•
submitted
on
the
official
forms
provided
on
the
website
at
http://www.crimeprevention.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx, include all requested information and
address the selection criteria
received in full, and
lodged via the electronic lodgement facility on or before the closing date. Faxed, posted or
emailed applications will not be accepted.
Appropriate supporting documents should be attached to the application.
Applicants should advise the Department in writing as soon as possible if there are any changes to
the information provided in their application form or any other changes that will affect their
application.
8.
MANAGING THE PROJECT
The Funding Agreement is a contract between your organisation and the Department, acting on behalf
of the Australian Government. It will outline the terms, conditions and obligations of funding, service
delivery, accountability and reporting requirements for both the Department and your organisation.
The Funding Agreement is a legally enforceable document that sets out the terms and conditions of
funding, including:
•
a description of the project
•
reporting requirements
•
milestones in the progress of the project
•
a schedule for payment of grant instalments (including consideration of GST)
Note: the final grant instalment payment will not be made until the project has been completed
and all reporting obligations fulfilled
•
agreed project outputs and performance measures, and
•
requirements for acquittal of the grant and project.
A contract does not exist until a Funding Agreement has been signed by both parties. Organisations
should not make financial commitments in expectation of receiving funding until the Funding
Agreement has been executed.
Grant recipients must provide regular reports on their progress against the achievement of agreed
milestones. The requirement to acquit expenditure will also be covered in these reports. The timing
of reports will be negotiated as part of the Funding Agreement and will be directly linked to the agreed
milestones.
Where progress payments are linked to the achievement of specific activities, these payments will only
be made after the relevant progress report is accepted and it is agreed that the requirements for
payment stated in the Funding Agreement have been met, including expenditure of the previous
payment.
Grant recipients are required to provide the Government with financial acquittals that demonstrate
that they have spent the Australian Government funding for the agreed purposes.
When the project has been completed, recipients must provide:
•
a final report to demonstrate that they have achieved all the agreed milestones
•
a project evaluation based on the benefits anticipated in the project proposal, and
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 8 of 10)
•
a financial acquittal of Commonwealth funding and any other funding as set out in the Funding
Agreement.
Once the Department accepts these reports, the final grant payment, covering project expenditure up
to the limit of the approved grant amount, will be made.
AGD will use either the whole-of-government low-risk funding agreement developed by the
Department of Finance or AGD’s long-form funding agreement. The choice of agreement will be
determined in accordance with AGD’s grant management policy based on the funding amount
awarded and the project risk assessed during the application assessment process, with the preference
being for using the low-risk funding agreement where appropriate. Copies of the two Funding
Agreement templates can be found at http://www.crimeprevention.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx.
9.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Applicants must indicate any potential perceived or actual conflict of interest arising from proposed
projects. Where the Department establishes that a conflict of interest exists, the Department may
decide not to consider the application.
If there is the possibility of a perceived conflict of interest, applicants should include a statement
addressing this and demonstrate why a conflict of interest will not result from the award of funding for
the project, or how the conflict will be managed.
All AGD employees have a responsibility to consider whether their actions or decisions could give rise
to a conflict of interest and are bound by the Department’s Conflict of Interest Policy. All AGD
employees will identify and disclose any conflict of interest as soon as possible after the conflict
becomes apparent.
10. PRIVACY
If you are awarded a Safer Streets Programme grant, under the terms of the Funding Agreement you
will be obliged to meet the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the
Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.
These principles cover the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information. Under these
principles, you should ensure that any personal information you may collect and hold is accurate,
relevant to the purpose for which it was collected, up to date and not misleading. In most cases,
personal information should not be used or disclosed to another person, body or agency without the
individual’s consent.
Individuals have the right to access their personal information and to complain if they think their
personal information has been mishandled.
Successful applicants must also comply with relevant State and Territory privacy legislation. Applicants
should pay close attention to privacy legislation when developing project proposals.
Personal information, such as names and telephone numbers, collected in the application form will be
used for the purpose of contacting an applicant relation to an application, for Vendor Creation, and to
pre populate the Funding Agreement should the applicant be awarded funding.
Information about the Privacy Act can be found at www.aoic.gov.au.
You should pay close attention to these principles in developing your project proposal. For example, if
you are presenting case studies or evaluation data, personal information should be de-identified.
Personal information about service participants should not be included without their explicit, informed
and written consent.
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 9 of 10)
11. COMPLAINTS MECHANISM
The Department regards complaints as a way of both assessing and improving our performance. The
Department will endeavour, where possible, to ensure that complaints are resolved promptly, fairly,
confidentially and satisfactorily and that our procedures are improved as a result.
Complaints regarding an application under the Safer Streets Programme should first be made in writing
to:
Assistant Secretary
Crime Prevention and Federal Offenders Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
If you believe that the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can direct your complaint to the
Attorney-General’s Department complaints handling mailbox ([email protected]), by contacting
the Compliments and Complaints Officer:
Telephone: 02 6141 2525
or by mail:
Compliments and Complaints Officer
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
All complaints referred to the Department will be fully investigated and the complainant should
receive a written response within 28 calendar days.
Where a complainant is dissatisfied with the way the complaint has been handled by the Department
they can seek further review and investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman can be contacted on:
Telephone: 1300 362 072 (toll free)
Website: www.ombudsman.gov.au
12. FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Crime Prevention Section
Criminal Justice Division
Attorney-General's Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6141 2711
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.crimeprevention.gov.au
Safer Streets Programme Guidelines April 2014 (Page 10 of 10)