Decision details

To agree proposals for a review of voluntary sector grants within the Community Wellbeing Portfolio.

Matter for Decision:  

The report followed the Director of Customer and Community Service’s report to this committee in October 2013 on the future of discretionary services. It provided the scope for the review of community development and arts and recreation development grants which, if approved, would be carried out in accordance with the Cambridgeshire Compact.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing:

The Executive Councillor resolved that:

     i.        Officers would carry out a review of the community development and arts and recreation development grants as set out in section 7 of the Officer’s report.

    ii.        Officers would report back to this committee in June/July 2014 with recommendations about new grants priorities and options for future budgets.

Reason for the Decision:

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The Committee received a report from the Head of Community Development regarding the Review of voluntary Sector Grants.

Concerns were raised that some groups might find the consultation process confusion and that the option offered did not cover all eventualities. The Head of Community Development stated that some groups might be able to offer a better fit with the new priorities and might gain from the process. He suggested that the public needed to respond to the proposals in general while groups needed to respond to the likely impact on their service individually. They would be helped to do this via the planned workshops. He further stated that the key message was that groups should focus on the priorities and outcomes rather than the amount of grant.

Councillor Johnson requested that the following wording be added to the table in 5.6 of the Officer’s report: To improve the health and wellbeing of participants and to address inequality. Councillor Brown stated that this was the main priority of the report and that additional working to the report was not necessary. Councillor Brown agreed to discuss this further with Councillor Johnson outside the meeting and to agree additional wording to be added to the consultation document if necessary.

Councillor Blackhurst proposed an amendment to the report with an additional paragraph being added to section 5 of the report, Proposed Priorities and Outcomes, as follows:

New 6.4 (existing 6.4 becomes 6.5, and so on)

The City Council recognises the crucial role played by legal advice services, such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, at a time when many people are facing potential hardship and the benefits system is under pressure. It is proposed that future grant allocation is done on the basis that legal advice services are a key priority for funding, and consultees will be invited to comment and this priority.

The amendment was agreed nem con.

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.