Decision details

Decision to be made: Agree to the creation of a voluntary sector initiative fund from existing Main Programme Grant and the Advice Services budgets with the allocation of funding to three funding streams: one for grant funded projects, one for infrastructure support for the voluntary sector and one for advice guidance and advocacy

(i)        that the creation of a newly named Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund from the existing Main Programme Grant and the Advice Services budgets be agreed;

(ii)       that the creation of three funding streams within the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund in the financial year 2012 – 2013 be agreed, which are as follows:

·                a funding stream using existing Main Programme Grant Budget forprojects which run for two year and nine months aligned to Borough Plan priorities excluding crime and regeneration as set out in paragraph 4.3 of this report;

·                a funding stream using existing Main Programme Grant Budget to commission infrastructure support for Brent’s voluntary and community sector for three years from 1st April 2012 until 31st March 2013 as set out in paragraph 4.10 of this report;

·                a funding stream containing existing advice, guidance and advocacy arrangements funded from the Advice Services budget and Main Programme Grant Budget from 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2013 as set out in paragraph 4.13 of this report;

(iii)      that agreement the addition of a further three year funding stream to commence in the financial year 2013-2014 for projects aligned to the range of borough plan priorities as set out in paragraph 4.4 of this report using the existing Main Programme Grant Budget as existing grant terms come to an end be agreed;

Grant projects aligned to Borough Plan priorities

(iv)      that the extension of (within existing budgets) all existing grant agreements under the children and young people’s theme and  decommission, with appropriate notice, these projects at the point the new themed funding becomes available be agreed;

(v)       that the decommission, with appropriate notice, the last set of projects being funded by the council under one year agreements at the point new funding streams become available with the exception of those covered by the advice, guidance and advocacy proposal be agreed;

(vi)      that agreement the decommissioning of the the crime and regeneration themed funding stream at the end of its three year grant period in March 2013 and replace it as outlined in paragraph 2.3 above, be agreed;

(vii)    that it be agreed to maintain the grant funding principles set out in paragraph 4.7 of this report;

Advice, Guidance and Advocacy

(viii)   that extending (within existing budgets) the existing one year grant agreements for projects provided by Brent Mencap, Brent Association of Disabled People and Age UK until March 31^st 2013 whilst a review of advice guidance and advocacy stream is undertaken be agreed;

(ix)      that extending (within existing budgets) the existing arrangements for Brent Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Brent Community Law Centre and Brent Private Tenants Rights Group until March 31^st 2013 whilst a review of the advice, guidance and advocacy stream is undertaken be agreed.

Operational Arrangements

(x)       that the draft themed grant funding criteria as set out in Appendix 3 of this report be agreed;

(xi)      that the amended grant funding terms and conditions set out in Appendix 4 of this report be agreed;

(xii)    that authority be delegated, in line with arrangements in place in Housing and Community Care, to the Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement to commission replacement projects where allocated funding is not taken up by a successful bidder or the project monitoring highlights a need to cease funding the agreed project.

(xiii)   that the review of advice guidance and advocacy will take place in the year 2012/ 2013 as set out in paragraph 4.13 of this report be noted;

(xiv)   that a further equality impact assessment will be undertaken for the review of the advice, guidance and advocacy funding stream in 2012/2013 which will accompany any proposals to the Executive arising from the review be noted;

(xv)    that the content of the equality impact assessment which is set out in Appendix 7 of this report upon consideration of the recommendations set out in this report be noted.

Through a questionnaire to voluntary sector organisations and face to face briefings at the Voluntary Sector liaison forum.an offer to meet with groups on an individual basis, the Voluntary Sector Liaison Forum and via survey of grant funded and non-grant funded organisations.