Issue - meetings

This report seeks authority to renew grant funding for a period of one year for Brent Citizens Advice Bureau (BCAB) and the Brent Community Law Centre Limited (BCLC). There is no provision in the Council’s Constitution to extend existing grant funding, so the renewals would amount to fresh grants.

(i)         that the grant for the Brent Citizen’s Advice Bureau be renewed for a further 1 year from 1 October 2010, to conclude 30 September 2011 pending the outcome of a strategic review;

(ii)        that the grant for the Brent Community Law Centre be renewed for a further 1 year from 1 October 2010, to conclude 30 September 2011 pending the outcome of a strategic review;

(iii)       that the savings as set out in option 1 of the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care be noted.

The report from the Director of Housing and Community Care sought authority to renew grant funding for a period of one year for Brent Citizens Advice Bureau (BCAB) and the Brent Community Law Centre Limited (BCLC). There was no provision in the council’s constitution to extend existing grant funding, so the renewals would amount to fresh grants. Earlier in the meeting the Executive received a deputation from Mary Purcell on behalf of Brent Citizens Advice Bureau concerning the options to reduce funding to the BCAB. Members expressed appreciation for the work carried out by the service.

Option one in the Director’s report was to reduce the BCLC’s and BCAB’s budgets by 15% and 4.5% respectively during the one year renewal period and option two was to agree an additional 10.5% from the BCAB’s existing budget. Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Adults, Health and Social Care) in responding to the deputation and introducing the report referred to the pending strategic review of advice services and negotiations with the organisations to reduce funding. She was aware of the sterling work of the BCAB and mindful that their caseload was likely to increase in the future. She asked that the savings in option one be noted.

RESOLVED:-

(i)         that the grant for the Brent Citizen’s Advice Bureau be renewed for a further 1 year from 1 October 2010, to conclude 30 September 2011 pending the outcome of a strategic review;

(ii)        that the grant for the Brent Community Law Centre be renewed for a further 1 year from 1 October 2010, to conclude 30 September 2011 pending the outcome of a strategic review;

(iii)       that the savings as set out in option 1 of the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care be noted.