Issue - meetings

That Cabinet approves the recommendations of the Policy & Performamnce Improvemenrt Committee to:

a)       move to three-year grant agreements for the charities listed in section 2.2 of the report; and

b)       apply a 3% inflationary increase in years two and three of the grant agreements detailed in section 2.2 of the report.

The Business Manager – Regeneration and Housing Strategy presented a report which updated Cabinet on the review of grant funding arrangements undertaken by the Policy and Performance Improvement Committee and the recommendations which had been made.

The Policy and Performance Improvement Committee had recommended a move to a three year funding agreement for Citizens Advice Sherwood and Newark; Home Start Newark and Sherwood; Newark and Sherwood CVS; The Furniture Project; and Live and Local. The Committee also recommended that the Council ceases to fund Notts and Lincs Credit Union and Newark and Sherwood Community Hub.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet approves the recommendations of the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee to:

a)       move to three-year grant agreements for the charities listed in section 2.2 of the report; and

b)       apply a 3% inflationary increase in years two and three of the grant agreements detailed in section 2.2 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

Ceasing funding to these charities would cause a significant detriment to the service users and would also place additional pressure on the charities themselves (to cover their overheads), and the council and other service providers where gaps in service provision appear.

Due to the diverse range of charities supported, there is a positive contribution across the whole community plan, including but not limited to: health and wellbeing, heritage and culture, housing and community spirit and pride of place.

Options considered:

The Policy & Performance Improvement Committee reviewed in detail the range of regular grant agreements in place with charities to determine whether the council was achieving value for money and could demonstrate impact and delivery of wider outcomes.

The alternative, of ceasing grant funding to charities was considered but it was also considered that the Community Plan can only be achieved by working in partnership with others and at a variety of different levels – sometimes street based, sometimes regionally, nationally and internationally.