Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:

To review the grants that were awarded by Community Services Scrutiny Committee from the Housing General Fund for this year in the context of the corporate policy and make recommendations to continue to grant fund the organisations during 2012/13 and 2013/14.

Decision of Executive  Councillor for Housing:

The Executive Councillor for Housing resolved to

              i.      Agree, subject to the budget setting process and formal adoption by Council of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 budgets, the funding to the voluntary sector organisations as detailed in the Officer’s report;

            ii.      Agree to consider a further report to committee in March on a proposal, subject to the budget setting process, to offer a capital grant of up to £100,000 to be drawn from the existing Renewals and Replacements fund to upgrade the facilities at the primary health care service for homeless people at 125 Newmarket Road;

          iii.      Note, the proposed Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Homelessness Prevention Grant budget allocation for 2012-13.

Reason for the Decision:

The voluntary sector provides key services to homeless people, including services which enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations. Housing grants enable the voluntary sector to provide services to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and, through the provision of specialist housing and support services, improve clients’ quality of life, help tackle social exclusion and prevent repeat homelessness. The grants make a significant contribution to the Council’s Medium Term Objective to ensure that Cambridge is ‘A city which recognises and meets needs for housing of all kinds – close to jobs and neighbourhood facilities’

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Housing Options and Homelessness Manager regarding the Housing General Fund Grants to Voluntary Organisations. Members noted a slight amendment to item 3.3 on page 107 of the Officer’s report. The proposed extension to the SLA with the CAB would run until 31^st March 2014 and not 2012 as stated in the report.

The committee requested further details on how the SLA’s listed on pages 106 and 107 of the Officer’s reports were reviewed and monitored. The Officer confirmed that the grant agreement detailed performance indicators and recipients of grants were assessed against those indicators.

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations in the report by 6 votes to 0.

The Executive Councillor for Housing approved the recommendations.

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