Issue - meetings

This report seeks agreement on the approval of a one-year extension to the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund Infrastructure Grant for CVS Brent from 1 April 2018-31 March 2019. The proposed grant will total £160K per annum. The report also seeks an increase to the financial level delegated to relevant Officers for the award of grants under the Brent Advice Fund.

It was RESOLVED:

17.1    That a one-year year extension to the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund (VSIF) Infrastructure Grant to CVS Brent in the sum of £160K for 2018-19 commencing 1 April 2018, be approved; and

17.2    That an increase to the financial level delegated to relevant Officers for the award of grants under the Brent Advice Fund to a maximum grant of £20k per annum, be approved.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) began by stating that the Council robustly supported the voluntary sector in its work within the borough. She provided an overview of the report which sought Cabinet approval for a one-year extension to the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund Infrastructure Grant (totalling £160,000 per annum) for CVS Brent for 2018-2019, and also requested an increase to the financial delegation level to officers for the award of grants under the Brent Advice Fund.

Councillor McLennan addressed some of the points raised by Councillor Warren at the start of the meeting and outlined that CVS Brent had recently undergone several personnel changes, which included the appointment of a new Chief Executive, but it was expected that the proposed grant extension would allow the new staffing team to deliver on the grant condition targets and priorities. She also noted that there was lot of resident interest in the partnerships and engagement between the Council and voluntary and community sector. Members also noted the condition that all posts funded through the grant would need to be paid at least the London Living Wage. 

Councillor Butt (Leader of the Council) also noted Councillor Warren’s points and added that Brent CVS reported to the Charity Commission, with accounting and other details viewable on its website. He continued and drew Members’ attention to the grant being aligned to the 2019 budget cycle and the proposals to expand the community hub model as had been piloted in Harlesden.

It was RESOLVED:

18.1    That a one-year year extension to the Voluntary Sector Initiative Fund (VSIF) Infrastructure Grant to CVS Brent in the sum of £160K for 2018-19 commencing 1 April 2018, be approved; and

18.2    That an increase to the financial level delegated to relevant Officers for the award of grants under the Brent Advice Fund to a maximum grant of £20k per annum, be approved.