Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:

The report provides an update on progress with work to engage, and work with, Muslim communities within the City to strengthen mutual understanding and community cohesion. The Executive Councillor is asked to approve recommendations for allocating the remaining funding to 3 larger projects are made.

Decision of Exec Cllr for Community Development and Health:

             I.      Agreed to award a grant to the YMCA for the project set out at 5.1 of the report.

          II.      Agreed funding based on the projects set out at 5.3, and 5.4 of the report.

       III.      Agreed funding, in principle, for the project set out at 5.5 of the report, subject to agreement of the scoping report and consultation with Chair and Spokes.

Reason for the Decision:

The report described how the work had been taken forward collectively with a steering group of representatives of Muslim communities and the voluntary sector since a report to the committee in January 2011.

It sets out how some of the one-off ‘Prevent’ funding was used to support the highly successful Mela held as part of Big Weekend in July, and some funding had been allocated, through a grants process, to support a programme of small projects (up to a value of £5,000) run by primarily Muslim and BME community groups. A recommendation is made to award a grant of £6,000 to the YMCA.

The report also explained how some larger projects have been and were being developed by officers, in consultation with the steering group, to respond to some themes that came out of the grants process.

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Head of Community Development regarding Community Cohesion and Inclusion Initiatives. Members agreed that this one time only funding had been put to good use. Cambridge had not had problems with racial tensions and the programme had promoted racial harmony for the future. Members praised the steering group, officers, community leaders and groups for the successful outcomes of the programme.  

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations in the report unanimously (8 votes to 0).

The Executive Councillor for Community Development and Health approved the recommendations.

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

N/A