Decision details

Approve any revised arrangements as recommended in the report.

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report outlined the work undertaken as scheduled with Cambridge Live, to review the organisation’s business plan and to reassess the level of funding the Council provides.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

       i.          Approved the approach outlined in paragraphs 3.6-3.10 of the Officer’s report; and

     ii.          Recommended to Council that the Council’s 2018/19 budget be revised to make an allocation of £500k from Reserves to be utilised for the purpose specified in 2.1 during 2018/9 and 2019/20 with full delegation for management of the funds assigned to the Chief Executive.

   iii.          Agreed that any variations to the contract for services with Cambridge Live and any additional legal agreements that are necessary to support the approach outlined in the report, are delegated to the Chief Executive to agree on behalf of the Council in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Spokes.

 

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 Services.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          Valued the work of Cambridge Live but asked about management of the organisation and the support it received from the Council.

     ii.          Sought clarification why additional funding was required from the City Council if Cambridge Live’s business model was sound.

   iii.          Queried if Cambridge Live needed more scrutiny of its operations if the extra funding were granted.

 

The Head of Community Services said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The City Council had fulfilled its part in support/management of Cambridge Live.

     ii.          Funding would support Cambridge live in the next phase of its development. £500k from council reserves would be utilised as a fixed sum to do this.

   iii.          The Council sought financial and legal advice before deciding that £500k was the correct amount of funding Cambridge Live required in the next phase of its development. Referred to paragraph 3.7 of the Officer’s report that stated part of the £500k would be used by Cambridge Live to update their business plan.

 

The Chief Executive added that the confidential appendix set out in detail reasons for the funding allocation. These could not be discussed when the committee was in open session. The Council would work with Cambridge Live on a turnaround programme that had several stages. The Chief Executive would report back to committee at each stage.

 

The Council would continue to have 2 Directors on the Cambridge Live Board.

 

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 1 to endorse the recommendations.

 

Councillor O’Connell withdrew from the meeting for this item and did not participate in the discussion or decision making.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.