Issue - meetings

To consider and approve a Policy on the funding of voluntary and community sector organisations.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the policy for funding voluntary and community sector organisations using the Shopping, Investing and Giving framework, attached to the report at Appendix 1, be approved subject to amendments to paragraphs 3.2,and 3.5 as detailed below;

2)                 the policy for the award of grants by Redditch Borough Council to voluntary and community sector organisations, attached to the report at Appendix 2, be approved subject to amendments to paragraphs 3.2, 4.3, 6.4, 9.12 and 10.3 as detailed below; and

3)                 further work be undertaken on the Council’s relationship with the voluntary and community sector, as recommended by the Third Sector Task and Finish Group, in the manner outlined in paragraphs 5.10 to 5.15 of the report.

Appendix 1

3.2       Shopping refers to the procurement and contractual arrangements with external providers to deliver services on behalf of the Council that the Council has a statutory duty to provide or priority areas the Council wishes to invest in.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

3.5       The Executive Committee will consider and make a decision on which services and funding mechanisms the Council will seek to provide under the Shopping element of this framework subject to agreement by full Council. e.g. Advice Services, Waste Management / recycling services.

Appendix 2

3.2       Shopping refers to procurement and contractual arrangements with external providers to deliver services on behalf of the Council and that the Council has a statutory duty to provide or priority areas the Council wishes to invest in.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

4.3       The Council will require that all grant awards willsupport Council objectives.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

6.4             Full cost recovery will not be considered for any grant awarded projects under £5,000 (small grants).

9.12    Unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of their application.  and will be signposted to appropriate organisations for support with securing funding from alternative sources.

10.3    (The following sentence to be added at the end of the paragraph.)  The length of the bidding process will be proportionate to the type and value of the grant.

Members considered a report which requested approval for two new policies, which had been produced in line with the recommendations of the Third Sector Task and Finish Group that had been approved by Council in January 2009:

a)                 Policy for Funding Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations using the Shopping, Investing and Giving Framework (Appendix 1 of the report); and

b)                 Policy for the Award of Grants by Redditch Borough Council to Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations (Appendix 2 of the report).

Officers reported that a number of amendments had been made to each of the policies as follows:

Appendix 1

3.2       Shopping refers to the procurement and contractual arrangements with external providers to deliver services on behalf of the Council that the Council has a statutory duty to provide or priority areas the Council wishes to invest in.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

3.5       The Executive Committee will consider and make a decision on which services and funding mechanisms the Council will seek to provide under the Shopping element of this framework subject to agreement by full Council. e.g. Advice Services, Waste Management / recycling services.

Appendix 2

3.2       Shopping refers to procurement and contractual arrangements with external providers to deliver services on behalf of the Council and that the Council has a statutory duty to provide or priority areas the Council wishes to invest in.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

4.3       The Council will require that all grant awards willsupport Council objectives.  (The remainder of this paragraph was unaltered.)

6.4             Full cost recovery will not be considered for any grant awarded projects under £5,000 (small grants).

9.12    Unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of their application.  and will be signposted to appropriate organisations for support with securing funding from alternative sources.

10.3    (The following sentence to be added at the end of the paragraph.)The length of the bidding process will be proportionate to the type and value of the grant.

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the policy for funding Voluntary and Community Sector organisations using the Shopping, Investing and Giving framework, attached to the report at Appendix 1, be approved subject to amendments to paragraphs 3.2,and 3.5 as detailed above;

2)                 the policy for the award of grants by Redditch Borough Council to Voluntary and Community Sector organisations, attached to the report at Appendix 2, be approved subject to amendments to paragraphs 3.2, 4.3, 6.4, 9.12 and 10.3 as detailed above; and

3)                 further work be undertaken on the Council’s relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector, as recommended by the Third Sector Task and Finish Group, in the manner outlined in paragraphs 5.10 to 5.15 of the report.