Issue - decisions

Date of Decision:

  28 March 2024

Title:

VCS Infrastructure and Advice Services SLAs 2024 - 2027

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Jo Brown, Assistant Chief Executive.

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Council Constitution, Appendix 9, Section 4C2: Assistant Chief Executive – Delegated Executive Functions: The Assistant Chief Executive is authorised to discharge executive functions in relation to:- (6) Performance, Intelligence and Improvement, including Policy and Partnerships.

Minute 98 of the Cabinet meeting held on 20^th November 2023 delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion to enter into two service level agreements (SLAs) with partner organisations; one to provide voluntary sector infrastructure support and the other to provide advice services for the years 2024/25 to 2026/27.

Decision:

·       To enter into a Service Level Agreements for three years from 1 April 2024 to the 31 March 2027, with Voluntary Action Rotherham to provide voluntary sector infrastructure support with an annual grant of £126,000 (or £378,000 over the three-year period).

·       To enter into a Service Level Agreements for three years from 1 April 2024 to the 31 March 2027, with Citizens Advice Rotherham and District to provide advice services with an annual grant of £240,000 (or £720,000 over the three-year period).

Reasons for the Decision:

At the meeting on 20^th November 2023, Cabinet resolved that approval be given to progress arrangements for VCS

Infrastructure Services in Rotherham, including:

A.    the proposed model to be delivered through a standard SLA for three years commencing from 1 April 2024 and continuing to 31 March 2027, which is based on the findings of a co-design exercise;

B.    the recommendation that the funding amount of £378,000 is awarded as a grant to Voluntary Action Rotherham in annual payments of £126,000 to deliver the three-year SLA.

It was also resolved by Cabinet that approval be given to progress arrangements for Advice Services in Rotherham, including:

A.    The proposed model to be delivered through a standard SLA for three years commencing from 1 April 2024 and continuing to 31 March 2027, which is based on the findings of a co-design exercise;

B.    The recommendation that the funding amount of £720,000 is awarded as a grant to Citizens Advice Rotherham and District in annual payments of £240,000 to deliver the three-year SLA.

C.    

Details have now been finalised to enable two service level agreements to be entered into between the Council and the respective organisations to deliver the functions and services agreed by Cabinet. A decision in accordance with the delegation provided is now required.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternative options were set out in the report to Cabinet on 20^th November 2023. The preferred option was to enter into a service level agreement with partner organisations. This option has been achieved.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest.

Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion consulted.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None.

Reports or parts of reports considered

Advice Services and Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Service Level Agreements 2024-2027 report, Cabinet 20^th November 2023.