Agenda item

A Cabinet report of the Director of Housing and Wellbeing to enable Cabinet to consider the arrangements for voluntary and community sector grants for the year 2024/2025. 

A Cabinet report of the Director of Housing and Wellbeing to enable Cabinet to consider the arrangements for voluntary and community sector grants for the year 2024/2025, was submitted (item 7e on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Lead Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, the Director of Housing and Wellbeing and the Communities and Wellbeing Manager assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

       i.          It was emphasised that grants were open as before, and that there had been two aspects added to the criteria for grants, referencing the cost of living and the Council’s Climate Change Strategy. The criteria for grants was applied to give weight to applications. Organisations did not necessarily have to fulfil every criteria. The additional criteria would not automatically exclude existing Member Grants groups.

      ii.          The ring fencing of £30k from the Community Grants sum for 2024/25 was for community groups. It was recognised that for some smaller groups, decisions were much more time critical and that it would be beneficial to alter the process slightly, as recommended in the report. The recommended process would allow smaller community groups to receive smaller funds quicker, without compromising the necessary due diligence and checks against eligibility criteria. Members could still nominate and support local groups to access funds through the grants process.  

    iii.          The Grants Panel was made up of officers and Chaired by the Communities and Wellbeing Manager. The purpose of the panel was to ensure due diligence by checking applications against the eligibility criteria. Applications were scored by panel members individually and an average score was identified. The final score for an application could be amended if further information was received to improve the strength of the application. The Grants team provided support to complete applications if required.

    iv.          Members Grants were introduced a number of years ago to enable members to support projects in their wards. Research had been undertaken which highlighted that some other Councils administered member grants schemes and the Council chose to develop a scheme.

     v.          Some organisations (such as The Bridge) had Service Level Agreements with the Council to provide services, and were funding through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau were a Strategic Partner of the Council, and received funding through the Strategic Partner Grant. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau also received funding from the Homelessness Prevention Grant to provide services on behalf of the Council, to reduce homelessness. The additional funding of £25k to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau was to increase capacity and to enable them to support more residents.

    vi.          The Citizen’s Advice Bureau reported to the Council on a quarterly basis, detailing the services accessed by residents by ward. The Communities and Wellbeing Manager agreed to share this report with members following the meeting.

  vii.          It was suggested that the list of voluntary sector organisations which the Council provides funding to, and the services offered, be circulated to members following the meeting.

RESOLVED

1.     That the Cabinet be informed that the Commission supports the recommendations as set out in the report of the Director of Housing and Wellbeing.

2.     That the Communities and Wellbeing Manager share the quarterly Citizen’s Advice Bureau report with members following the meeting.

3.     That the Director of Housing and Wellbeing circulate a list of voluntary sector organisations which the Council provides funding to, and the services offered, following the meeting.

Reasons

1.     The Commission, having carefully considered the report, felt the Cabinet should approve the recommendations set out.

2.     To enable members to see the Citizen’s Advice Bureau services accessed by members of the public by ward.

3.     To ensure members were aware of the organisations and services being funded by the Council.