Decision No: CAB159 - 03/2009

Forward Plan No: ED03291

This record relates to A01 on the agenda for the Decision-Making

RECORD OF EXECUTIVE DECISION

16/03/2009  

DECISION-MAKER:

THE CABINET  

PORTFOLIO AREA:

Economic Development  

SUBJECT:

2009/10 Grants to Voluntary Organisations  

AUTHOR:

Suki Sitaram  

THE DECISION

To approve the proposals / recommendations contained in the report without modification as set out below.
Having considered the Community Strategy (City of Southampton Strategy), particularly where grants are authorised pursuant to S.2 Local Government Act 2000 in pursuance of the Council’s priorities:

(i) To approve the principle that across all Portfolios grants to voluntary organisations in 2009/10 are maintained at the same level as the current (2008/09) year with no increase for inflation – the only exception being where recommendations are made to withdraw or reduce grants.
(ii) To approve the detailed grant recommendations set out in the following attached Schedules:
• Schedule 1: Children’s Services Portfolio
• Schedule 2: Young People and Skills Portfolio
• Schedule 3: Environment and Transport Portfolio
• Schedule 4: Leisure, Culture and Heritage Portfolio
• Schedule 5: Housing and Local Services Portfolio
• Schedule 6: Economic Development Portfolio
(iii) To approve the following delegations to allocate grants reserve budgets throughout the year:
Stronger Communities and Equalities Manager
Community Chest Reserve
New Initiatives Fund (following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member)
Head of Neighbourhood Services
Community Centres Support Reserve
Greening the City Projects
Trees for Life Programme
Tree Preservation Order Grants
Policy Co-ordinator for the Neighbourhoods and Local Services Portfolio
Unallocated Reserves
Head of Policy and Performance, Directorate of Environment
Environment and Transport Portfolio Unallocated Reserve
Policy Co-ordinator for the Children’s Services Portfolio
Special Needs Holiday Play Schemes Reserve
Play Services Grants Reserve
Children’s Services Learning Grants Reserve
Head of Young People and Community Support
Youth Projects Reserve
Head of Leisure and Culture
Leisure and Culture Unallocated Reserve (subject to further grant funding being secured)
Policy Co-ordinator for the Adult Social Care and Health Portfolio
Adult Social Care and Health, Social Development (Health and Wellbeing) Fund
(iv) To approve delegated authority to Policy Co-ordinators for each Portfolio following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member for decision making on any under spend or return of grant awards.
(v) To approve that
• a corporate review of grants covering cross-Portfolio and individual Portfolio voluntary sector funding issues is undertaken across all grant making Portfolios,
• the review of advice provision in relation to immigration, nationality and race advice services is incorporated into the wider review of advice services being undertaken as part of the corporate grants review,
• authority to agree the full scope of the review is delegated to the Stronger Communities and Equalities Manager following consultation with the lead Cabinet Member for voluntary sector issues,
• the review is completed by July 2009 to ensure that grant aided organisations are given sufficient notice of changes that may result in significant reductions in grants in the next funding cycle.
(vi) To note that any recommendations approved as a result of the review will take effect from the 2010/11 financial year.
(vii) To approve the principle that no new Three Year Funding Agreements are entered into, pending the outcome of the grants review.
(viii) To approve the award of Community Chest grants from the Economic Development Portfolio twice a year instead of the current three times a year.  

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

1. The council recognises the immense contribution of the voluntary sector to the city and its citizens. This is supported by the council in many ways including a significant financial contribution through grant aid, approved on an annual basis.
2. A review of grants is recommended as budgets are “silted up” with little capacity to support new innovative projects or groups. It is also necessary to ensure that grants meet current Council, Portfolio and service priorities and that they complement other funding mechanisms such as contracts.
 

DETAILS OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

1. The following options have been considered and rejected:
• Award no grants
This would leave the council open to serious legal challenge from voluntary organisations in the city under the Haringey, Leicester and Ealing principles. Key services meeting the council’s priorities would cease, affecting the city’s most vulnerable citizens. Most importantly, it would be contrary to the council’s commitment to the voluntary sector.
• Award an inflationary increase on all grants
This would leave no flexibility to award new grants and in view of the economic downturn, low inflation and Council budget pressures and service cuts an inflationary increase for voluntary sector grants could not be justified. However, the total grants budgets have been protected with the exceptions detailed in the report and schedules.
• Award total requested sums
While this would meet the proposed financial need of the voluntary organisations, budget pressures mean the council is unable to meet these requests.  

OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS CONCERNING THE DECISION

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The decision-maker(s) did not declare a personal or prejudicial interest in the matters set out in the report  

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE RECORD:

We certify that the decision this document records was made in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 and is a true and accurate record of that decision.

Date:

Decision Maker:

16/03/2009

The Cabinet

Proper Officer:

Judy Cordell

SCRUTINY

Note: This decision will come in to force at the expiry of 5 working days from the date of publication subject to any review under the Council's Scrutiny 'Call-In' provisions.

Call-In Period

17 March 2009 to 24 March 2009

Date of Call-in (if applicable) (this suspends implementation)

Call-in Procedure completed (if applicable)

Call-in heard by (if applicable)

Results of Call-in (if applicable)