Decision details

The Executive will be asked to consider proposals for financial support to local voluntary and community sector organisations in 2010/2011 through grants and commissions

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services on the proposed corporate grants and commissioning programme for 2010/11, together with a summary of the achievements of those groups that received funding last year.  The report also outlined proposals for the Council and Legal Services Commission to jointly procure a contract for the provision of a Community Legal Advice Centre in the Borough.

Noted that all grant applications received were assessed against the Council’s agreed criteria and those that are recommended will enable achievement of the overall objectives of building capacity in the third sector and making a contribution to community cohesion by bringing together all communities in the Borough. 

Agreed, in order to assist in the achievement of corporate and partnership objectives and, in particular, the Community Priorities of “Fair and Respectful” and “Prosperous”, to a corporate grants and commissioning programme for 2010/11 totalling £844,470 as follows:-

  (i)  The renewal of commissions which commenced in 2008/9 to a total value of £216,600 as set out in Annex 1 (attached);

  (ii)  The extension of commissions which commenced in 2008/9 but which were due to expire in 2009/10 to a total value of £145,000 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

  (iii)  The renewal of commissions which commenced in 2009/10 to a total value of £87,600 as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

  (iv)  The entering into of a contract for a new Community Legal Advice Centre from 2010/11, estimated at a total cost to the Council of £196,500 per annum over three years, and to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with Legal Partners, to award the contract;

  (v)  The award of grants of under £10,000 to a total value of £70,494 as set out in Appendix 5 to the report;

  (vi)  The award of small grants to a total value of £15,000 in line with the process described in paragraph 4.2 of the report;

  (vii)  The allocation of funding totalling £17,500 for talented and gifted young people in line with the process described in paragraph 4.4 of the report;

  (viii)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services to allocate funds from the remaining contingency budget of £95,776, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods and Communities, in order to respond to any urgent issues or emerging priorities that may arise during 2010/11; and

  (ix)  The rejection of grant applications as set out in Appendix 7 to the report.