Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:  

This report detailed applications from voluntary and not for profit organisations for 2013-14 Sustainable City Grant funding and made recommendations for funding.

The Council currently supports two countywide environmental partnerships through sustainability partnership funding from the Strategy & Partnerships base budget (the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Biodiversity Partnership and the Cambridgeshire Travel for Work Partnership).  In January 2011 Environment Scrutiny Committee agreed to reduce the funding awarded to the Travel for Work Partnership (TfW) to bring it in line with awards made by other contributing local authorities.

The Committee also agreed in 2011 to review funding of both partnerships beyond 2012/13.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

              i.      To approve the recommendations for Sustainable City Grants to voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in 2013-14 as set out in Section 3.6 of this report, subject to confirmation of the Council’s 2013-14 budget in February 2013 and, in some cases, to the provision of further information from applicants.

            ii.      To approve the continued funding of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Biodiversity Partnership and the Cambridgeshire Travel for Work Partnership at their current levels for the next three financial years (2013/14, 2014/15, and 2015/16), subject to satisfactory annual evaluation reports. 

          iii.      Funding of these partnerships beyond 2015/16 will be reviewed in 2015.

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 Strategy and Partnership Manager regarding the Sustainable City Grants 2013-14.

Concerns were raised about the grants process and if it might be more appropriate for such grant to be considered along with community grants. Members stated that, while the sums of money in the grants were small, they felt uneasy making decisions with out the full information.  Concerns were raised about the results and value for money achieved. In future members would like to see more feedback from previous grant recipients.

The Sustainability Officer confirmed that her team do keep detailed histories of previous grant recipients. Nine criterions, with specific outcomes and targets were part of the application process. Councillor Ward stated that in the past, members of all parties had reviewed the grants pre committee and he would be happy for this to happen in future.

Members questioned why a number of applicants had not received the full amount they had requested. The Officer confirmed that such decisions were based on value for money and merit. Smaller amounts to a larger number of organisation was favoured as the award of a Cambridge City Council grant opened door for applicants to apply to other grant funding bodies.

The Committee resolved by 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.