Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the Cabinet Member for Community Planning and Social Inclusion held on 19^th November, 2004 be approved as a correct record.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to financial assistance provided by the Council).

(Exempt under Paragraph 5 of the Act – information relates to financial assistance provided by the Council)

Consideration was given to a report of the Partnership Officer (Regeneration) and Regional and External Affairs Manager which detailed the provision of grant aid to voluntary and community groups through mainstream and CERB funding within the Chief Executive’s Department which had been reviewed.

There was a need to re-focus investment to enable an increase in the range of voluntary and community groups supported.  This would be done by commissioning with a smaller number of infrastructure organisations who would then provide a range of support to the voluntary and community sectors.  It was also proposed to create a new Fund (the Infrastructure and Corporate Initiatives Fund) through the merger of CERB and mainstream grant budgets within the Chief Executive’s Department.  This report dealt only with the community element of CERB; the economic element was dealt with through Economic and Development Services which was not affected.

The Head of Policy and Partnerships provided Members with the history around the funding and confirmed that the mainstream budget has been in place for a number of years. The mainstream budget currently stood at approximately £570k, and like the CERB fund, was subject to budget pressures.

The report, now submitted was considered in detail and at length by all Members present.

Members requested some form of evaluation or monitoring process to ensure that funds provided were used effectively with a link to all funding streams across the Council.

The Partnership Officer (Regeneration) provided background information and the new approval recommendations for the next three years for voluntary section organisations included in the following categories:-

·              Advice/Information/Counselling.

·              Community Safety.

·              Credit Unions.

·              Equalities.

·              Infrastructure.

·              Children and Young People.

·              Other.

·              Proposed New Development Projects.

Members received relevant facts and information and asked various questions about each organisation in order to satisfy the recommendations suggested in the report.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of this report and the work undertaken in reviewing funding to projects be noted.

(2)  That the funding for the following development projects during the 2004/05 financial year be approved:-

(i)      Objective 1/SRB6 Community Cohesion Project - £3,000 (via adjustment of service level agreement with Voluntary Action Rotherham).

(ii)      Advice & Guidance Sectoral Strategy - £5,000 to Rotherham Advice and
 Information Network on behalf of the Community Legal Service Partnership.

(iii)     Support for a voluntary sector strategy - £5,000 (with an additional £15,000 in  2005/06 to make a total budget of £20,000 over two financial years)

(3)  That an additional £4,250 for the Community Safety Advice Centre to ensure that final quarter rent payments could be paid be approved.

(4)   That funding to identified projects as shown at Appendix B for 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 (to be read in conjunction with detailed background as provided at Appendix A) be approved.

(5)  That the negotiations with Voluntary Action Rotherham on future areas of work and funding levels, the results of which will be the subject of a separate report be supported.

(6)  That the proposal for work reviewing issues around BME communities to be reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting be held on Friday, 21^st January, 2005 commencing at 10.00 a.m.