Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement introduced a report on the proposed Participation and Partnerships Strategy 2019-2023 and the procurement, via a social infrastructure contract, of an organisation from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to help deliver the Council’s aspirations.

The Cabinet Member referred to the key role of VCSE partners in the Borough and stated that a key focus of the new four-year Strategy was to strengthen the sector and build on some of the great work and ideas that had already helped to shape the Borough.  In turn, the VCSE sector would be better placed to influence and deliver essential services and support to the local community, help people grow in life and build a better future for everyone; all aspirations within the Borough Manifesto.

In respect of the procurement, the Cabinet Member referred to the tendering of the social infrastructure contract.  The end of the current contract had provided the opportunity to assess the options for the future, in the context of the Borough Manifesto and the new Strategy.  The preferred option was to commission a new social infrastructure contract to lead the step change required locally across the VCSE sector and develop, in conjunction with the Council and partners, arrangements for collaboration and support, including the local giving model and brand. 

The Cabinet Member was also pleased to report that the Council had been awarded £100,000 grant funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport towards the development of the VCSE across 2018/19 and 2019/20.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the Participation and Partnerships Strategy for strengthening the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Barking and Dagenham, as set out at Appendix 4 to the report;

(ii)  Note the local giving model update at Appendix 3 to the report and proposed next steps within the strategy;

(iii)  Agree that the remaining Crowdfunding budget be ringfenced for 2019-2021 to support both the contract with Crowdfunder UK and the match-funding small grants fund;

(iv)  Agree the procurement of a VCSE organisation to deliver the social infrastructure support and a local giving model, as detailed in Option 4 in the report; and

(v)  Delegate authority to the Director of Policy and Participation, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Law and Governance, to conduct the procurement and award and enter into the contract for social infrastructure support and all other necessary or ancillary agreements with the successful partner, in line with the priorities set out in the strategy.