Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Johnny Denis

(Key decision):

(1) To agree the grant allocations for 2021/22, to be allocated in line with the existing voluntary sector grants policy, as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report.

(2) To note the consultation responses.

(3) To agree to award all grants tri-annually from 2022/23 onwards and introduce a competitive bidding process to be implemented in 2021/22.

(4) That a further report making recommendations for future funding priorities, in the form of a ‘prospectus’ against which organisations can bid, be considered at a future meeting of the Cabinet.

(5) An amended grants policy be prepared in line with the recommendations above for adoption at a future meeting of the Cabinet.

(6) That a Grants Working Group of three members be established, as set out at paragraph 2.4 of the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, asking them to note response of the consultation exercise, give consideration to the method of awarding future grants and agree any changes to the council’s voluntary sector grants policy.

The Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, at its meeting on 25 January 2021, made the following recommendation to Cabinet:

To support the recommendations in the report subject to the following amendment being considered by the Cabinet:

That Cabinet consider the option of agreeing to award a combination of core grants (without a bidding process) alongside competitive grants on a tri-annual basis to be implemented from 2021/22’.

The recommendation from the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), was presented by Councillor Burman, and considered by Cabinet during their discussions. Councillor Denis thanked PPAC for the recommendation and confirmed that this had been considered previously. Councillor Denis concluded that he believed that what was proposed in the report was the best approach to supporting local organisations.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To agree the grant allocations for 2021/22, to be allocated in line with the existing voluntary sector grants policy, as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report.

(2) To note the consultation responses.

(3) To agree to award all grants tri-annually from 2022/23 onwards and introduce a competitive bidding process to be implemented in 2021/22.

(4) That a further report making recommendations for future funding priorities, in the form of a ‘prospectus’ against which organisations can bid, be considered at a future meeting of the Cabinet.

(5) An amended grants policy be prepared in line with the recommendations above for adoption at a future meeting of the Cabinet.

(6) That a Grants Working Group of three members be established, as set out at paragraph 2.4 of the report.

Reason for decisions:

The introduction of these changes to the voluntary sector grants policy will enable the council to be more transparent and flexible in how local voluntary organisations are supported and will ensure a focus on priority areas of need.