Decision details

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council on a community development and community engagement model for the future. The report includes recommendations for increasing investment in the Community Chest Scheme.

Having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules:

(i)  To approve the model for facilitating community development as detailed in this report and delegate authority to the Chief Strategy Officer, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure.

(ii)  To approve the doubling of the budget for the Community Chest grants scheme to £100,000 and delegated authority for grant allocations to the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure who will chair a new cross party Member Panel to make recommendations.

1.  This report is submitted for consideration as a General Exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the City Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Panel and the Public.

2.  Current grant recipients have had their funding extended to 31/03/17 to enable consultation and consideration on how the grants awards could be managed in the future to ensure alignment with city council priorities. There is an urgency in proceeding with the proposals so that grant recipients can have timely information on future funding and undertake their own business planning.

3.  The proposals maximise the benefits from  the significant investment the Council makes in the voluntary sector and to ensure that this is directed towards the key Council priorities and that it can be used in a more strategic manner to lever in external funding to the city.

4.  The proposals provide more opportunities for small groups to access one off funding as this type of support has delivered significant benefits to many citizens and supports the efforts of volunteering in the city.

Continuing with the current arrangement has been considered and rejected because:

·  We have not maximised the contribution within the city to build more resilient communities and deliver on the Council’s outcomes as set out in the approved Council Strategy 2016-2020.

·  While there are a number of services in the city providing a valuable service with a good return on investment,  this is variable across organisations.

·  Activities are not always co-ordinated leading to both overlaps and gaps which means that impact is not targeted or maximised.

·  There is no capacity for ‘scaling up’ within current arrangements to secure more external funding for the city.