Decision details

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council detailing current investment in the voluntary sector and proposals for phased implementation of a plan to adopt a unified approach to future investment.

(i)  To approve the principle of a unified approach to the Council’s investment in the voluntary sector, comprising all current grants and contracts.

(ii)  To approve a consultation exercise on the proposed approach with grant aided organisations and the wider voluntary sector to include future arrangements for the current grants budget.

(iii)   To approve proposals for extending the established participatory budgeting approach in Thornhill to two other areas of the city and to agree continuation of funding for all three areas from the existing budgets.

(iv)  To delegate authority to the Chief Strategy Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations contained in this report and, following the consultation exercise, to approve a way forward.

To 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.

To continue to use the current approach was considered and rejected as the Council is committed to ensuring its investment in the voluntary sector leads to greater collaboration within the sector and achieves more external funding for the city.