Issue - meetings

A recommendation from Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund Grant’s Panel has now been received to award a grant to Mencap Brent in the sum of £19,657.77 and as a result Cabinet approval is sought to permit such an award.

RESOLVED:

21.1   Cabinet noted the making of Round 3 Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund grants using delegated powers as set out in Figure 1 at paragraph 3.7 of the report from  Director of Performance, Policy and Partnerships.

21.2   Cabinet approved the making of a Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund grant of £19,657.77 to Brent Mencap for the period of 1 year for the reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.09 – 3.14 of the report from Director of Performance, Policy and Partnerships. The grant would provide an advice service to assist Brent residents aged 18-65 who have been assessed as having a learning disability but whom are not currently eligible for support from Brent Adult Social Care. This included people living with family carers, in their own tenancies or in supported housing. Some may present with multiple, complex issues such as debt, hate crime and depression which often only emerge once a simpler issue such as getting a Freedom pass has been resolved or another form filled in.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader of the Council, introduced the report. As per Cabinet decisions on 16 November 2015 and 8 February 2016, a contract had been awarded to Brent Citizen’s Advice Bureau. This contract had encompassed the administration of a small advice grants programme of £242,000 per year to include recommending to Officers the award of small advice grants of up to £10,000 using delegated powers. A recommendation from Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund Grant’s Panel had been received to award a grant to Mencap Brent in the sum of £19,657.77 and therefore Cabinet approval was sought to permit such an award.

Councillor McLennan stated that the council was reviewing how grants exceeding the £10,000 limit would be considered in the future.

RESOLVED:

21.1  Cabinet noted the making of Round 3 Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund grants using delegated powers as set out in Figure 1 at paragraph 3.7 of the report from  Director of Performance, Policy and Partnerships.

21.2  Cabinet approved the making of a Brent Advice Partnership’s Advice Fund grant of £19,657.77 to Brent Mencap for the period of 1 year for the reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.09 – 3.14 of the report from Director of Performance, Policy and Partnerships. The grant would provide an advice service to assist Brent residents aged 18-65 who have been assessed as having a learning disability but whom are not currently eligible for support from Brent Adult Social Care. This included people living with family carers, in their own tenancies or in supported housing. Some may present with multiple, complex issues such as debt, hate crime and depression which often only emerge once a simpler issue such as getting a Freedom pass has been resolved or another form filled in.