Issue - meetings

Public Protection & Community Engagement Portfolio

To consider report HCS/27 of the Head of Community Services, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 8 March 2021.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet approves the allocation of Community Grants in 2021/22, as is set out the table in paragraph 5.9 of report HCS/27.

Reasons for the Recommendations

The recommendation supports the Council to achieve a balanced budget position for 2021/22 onwards.

It responds to the approach agreed at Cabinet on 3 February 2021, that being the implementation of a transitionary year that supports the Council to develop and implement a high quality outcome focused commissioning and small grants programme from 2022/23 onwards that can better respond to our community’s needs.

It takes into account the needs of the organisations that we currently fund by factoring in their ability to deliver to the stated outcomes and their current financial position, in determining individual allocations. Alongside this, our intention is to provide support to organisations to build capacity and resilience through the development of dedicated transition plans, in readiness, where appropriate, for the 2022/23 funding programme.

The Leader presented report HCS/27of the Head of Community Services.  The report sought approval for the Community Grants applications to the voluntary and community sector for 2021/2022.

The Leader explained that the report sets out the proposed approach for the dealing with the community grants in the future, with the majority of the grants being used to essentially contracting in services from charities and 3^rd Sector organisations. That contracting or commissioning would be for key part of the Town’s infrastructure particularly in where the Borough Council plays a significant role such as housing and homelessness, where Open House for example would receive funding. The remained would be based on a crowdfunding model which would allow residents to access funding for the voluntary services, as long as other residents were also supporting that proposal. This was a new approach the Council was using and may change going forward, but this revised approach has been required as the Council has had to reduce the Grant funding by a third recently. The Commission has asked to keep an eye on how the approach was going and that was fine and appropriate.

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report OSC/294 to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 8 March 2021, which included:

·       The Commission confirming their support of the proposed approach and that they would like to key an eye on how the new grant process proceed.

·       The Commission acknowledged that the Council’s grant funding pot was still large and generous compared to most Borough and District Councils.

·       Regarding CCA the Commission was reassured that they had alternative means of funding and reserve that could be used to continue their activities.

Councillor Lamb moved the report included the proposed changes which was seconded by Councillor B Smith.

A recorded vote was taken on the recommendations in accordance with the Council’s Virtual Committee Procedure Rules.  The names of the Councillors voting for and against the recommendations, along with any abstentions, are recorded as set out below:

For the recommendations:

Councillors Irvine, Jhans, Lamb, Mullins, B Smith and P Smith (6)

Against the recommendations:

None. (0)

Abstentions:

None. (0)

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet approves the allocation of Community Grants in 2021/22, as is set out the table in paragraph 5.9 of report HCS/27.

Reasons for the Recommendations

The recommendation supports the Council to achieve a balanced budget position for 2021/22 onwards.

It responds to the approach agreed at Cabinet on 3 February 2021, that the implementation of a transitionary year that supports the Council to develop and implement a high quality, outcome focused commissioning and small grants programme from 2022/23 onwards that can better respond to our community’s needs.

It takes into account the needs of the organisations that we currently fund by factoring in their ability to deliver to the stated outcomes and their current financial position, in determining individual allocations. Alongside this, our intention is to provide support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

To consider report HCS/27 of the Head of Community Services.

The Commission considered report HCS/27 of the Head of Community Services.  The report sought approval for the proposed Community Grants allocations for the transitional year 2021/22.

During the discussion with the Leader of the Council and the Head of Community Services, the following comments were made:

·         Confirmation provided on the allocations and criteria applied, focusing on key priorities.

·         Acknowledgement that it was an unfortunate situation that the Council was having to reduce the funding, the Council was still twice as generous as any other similar type of Council in the country. The Council also provided significant property and rental support to a number of charities and third sector organisations, further to the grant funding.  It was explained that the new funding proposal would be based on a commissioning approach, where the Council commissions organisations to provide clear indefinable outcomes for our community.

·         Recognition that other alternative (external) funding opportunities may be available for organisations, such as Crowdfunding.  There was a need to adapt to changes in funding and ways of working. However, the council would still be looking to assist in signposting. 

·         Acknowledgement that the majority of organisations would be receipt of the same funding level. 4 organisations had been recommended to have funding reduced or removed and the specific rationale for each of these was noted.  It was remarked that the current grant awards programme was not based on any legally binding contacts, but it was referenced that organisations may apply a presumption of being funded as they were mid-way through a two year grant agreement (pre Covid and financial impact).  The second year funding was provisional and there was a break-clause built in as organisations were required to provide an action plan prior to the second year. Monitoring reports were required for both year one and year two funding.

·         In terms of unrestricted reserves, these were documented as surplus funds that an organisation can keep aside from their operational budget that did not have a restriction on how it was spent.  In terms of CCA it was considered that the organisation could sustain itself and there was access to alternative funding.

·         Recognition that it was important to ensure that the available funds were well managed.

·         It was noted that the process was a new arrangement. The OSC should be satisfied over 12 months, that any subsequent action taken through Community Services had been sufficient and effective to support the voluntary sector organisations that were currently supported by the CCA.  As a result it was requested that a review report come back to the OSC on the changes.

RESOLVED

That the Commission notes the report and requests that the views expressed during the debate, are fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet.