Decision details

To note the findings of a review of present activities funded through the Advice and Guidance Stream of the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund requested by the Executive and to agree future funding proposals in light of these findings.

(i)         that the key findings from the review of service provision in the newly formed advice and guidance stream during 2012/2013 set out in section 3 of the report and summarised at paragraph 3.12 of the report be noted;

(ii)        that it be noted that existing arrangements for most projects in the advice and guidance funding stream were rolled over on 1 April 2013, due to the review of existing arrangements taking longer than expected and pending a decision from Executive on future provision in light of the review. (See 2.6 for the exception);

(iii)       that authority be delegated to Assistant Director – Policy to renegotiate of a Service Level Agreement with Brent Community Law Centre for the provision of specialist legal advice until 31 March 2015 as set out in paragraph 3.33;

(iv)       that authority be delegated to Assistant Director – Policy to renegotiate a Service Level Agreement with Brent Citizen’s Advice Bureau for the provision of generalist legal advice until 31 March 2015 as set out in paragraph 3.33;

(v)        that the council’s existing grant agreements with Age UK and Brent Mencap be extended until 31 March 2014 as set out in paragraph 3.35 2.6;

(vi)       that it be noted that Brent Association of Disabled People has encountered some governance and financial difficulties which are affecting the everyday running of the organisation and the council has worked with BADP to investigate these. Regrettably, the council is not in a position to continue to fund the organisation to provide advice and guidance for disabled people in the borough at this time;

(vii)      Agree to commission a new consolidated advice and guidance service level agreement providing advice and guidance to both elderly and disabled people from 1^st April 2014 until 31^st March 2015, with option to extend for a further year, subject to the 2014 Executive decision on future advice provision (as set out in paragraph 3.36);

(viii)     Agree to seek interim provision of advice and guidance for disabled people in the borough to replace that which cannot be provided by the Brent Association for Disabled People, until the new arrangement proposed in 2.7 is in place.

(ix)       Agree to extend existing arrangements for private sector tenant engagement provided by Brent Private Tenants Rights Group until 31^st March 2014, giving notice that the council does not intend to fund this particular project after that time.

(x)        Note the intention to manage the monitoring of this grant as part of the themed grants stream during this period and no longer include it as part of the Advice and Guidance stream.

(xi)       Agree to reallocate the £33,228.98 presently allocated on the tenant engagement project to Housing Need Team in Regeneration and Growth to commission work to address private sector housing issues from 1^st April 2014 (as set out in paragraphs 3.30, 3.31 and 3.38).

(xii)      Note the specific proposals (set out in paragraph 3.10) already agreed by members for ward working projects which respond to welfare reforms including work with disabled and elderly people, private tenants and debt benefits advice, including budgeting in light of the need identified during the review.

(xiii)     Note the plans to work with the Adult Social Care Department and local organisations to map out local services available for disabled and elderly in the borough to ensure better cross agency working and referral pathways between advice provision and other services. 

(ix)       Note the intention to bring the advice services to Executive in 2014 for further consideration, in light of the local government settlement and its impact.