Issue - meetings

To consider a report from a Member Task and Finish Group and recommendations following a review of the Council’s funding to the voluntary sector.

i.  Approves the award of two contracts, one for advice based services and the other for infrastructure services, as detailed as Option 4, paragraph 3.5 of the report;

ii.  That the contract term and funding be until the 31st March 2020;

iii.  That the overall budget model be Option 3 (amended) as detailed in the first Table in paragraph 4.4 of the report;

iv.  Approves the funding split for the contracts as 65% to 35% in favour of advice based services but with flexibility through negotiated contract award of 10% either way; and

v.  That the existing Task and Finish Group be retained and to work with the Executive Councillor for Community Resilience to develop the contract terms including performance metrics and reporting frameworks. 

By way of a report by the Head of Community in partnership with the Chairman of the Member Task and Finish Group, Cllr Hayward, (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet received the conclusions and recommendations following a review of the Council’s funding arrangement for the voluntary sector, having previously agreed the formation of a Member Task and Finish Group at its meeting in January 2016.

The Council had historically supported the voluntary sector across Huntingdonshire through revenue grant funding. The existing funding arrangements had ended on 31 March 2016 and the Cabinet resolved in January 2016 to extend the funding arrangements, in defined cases, to 31 March 2017; to establish a Task and Finish Group to review the arrangements for allocating Council funding to the voluntary and community sectors; and to propose any changes to funding arrangements to take effect from 1 April 2017.

The Group obtained evidence from representatives within the voluntary sector and Cambridgeshire County Council, and had undertaken further desk-top research with other local authorities. In making its recommendations to the Cabinet, the Group recognised the Cabinet resolutions from January 2016, guidance from the National Association of Voluntary and Community Action, and the Council’s Corporate Plan 2016-18.

The Group considered options, as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report, from the continuation of the existing funding arrangements through to the creation of a single contract for the whole of the sector, as well as the option of terminating funding to the sector.  In considering the options for the funding of the voluntary and community sector, the Group recommended Option 4 – the award of two contracts for the provision of advice to Huntingdonshire communities, and the provision of infrastructure and support to the Huntingdonshire voluntary and community sector.

Regarding the duration of contracts, the Group considered options including Council procurement until 31 March 2020, of seeking alignment with the current funding arrangements of Cambridgeshire County Council, and of extending the Council procurement until 31 March 2021. 

To provide further stability in the Huntingdonshire advice service, and voluntary and community infrastructure services, the Group recommended that the contracts should be awarded until 31 March 2021, which would avoid the year of District Council elections.

By extending the duration of contracts to 31 March 2021 the Cabinet noted this would provide a five year contract, which it considered was too extensive.  Therefore, the Cabinet amended the Officer’s recommendation as contained within the report, so that the contract term and funding was until the 31 March 2020.

In January 2016, the Cabinet agreed to taper the reduction in funding to the voluntary sector over the period 2016/17 to 2019/20.  The Group had reconsidered this in light of evidence obtained from its review.  The Cabinet agreed with the recommendation, that in order to ensure stability and confidence for long-term planning within the sector, Option 3, as detailed in the first Table in paragraph 4.4 of the report, be the preferred funding option with the reduction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25

The Panel is to receive the Voluntary Sector Grant Funding Working Group’s Final Report.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Voluntary Sector Grant Funding Working Group Final Report was presented to the Panel. The background information which subsequently led to the formation of the Working Group was outlined.

Members were informed that the Working Group had reviewed the existing funding arrangement and considered the following four options: option one is the termination of funding, option two is the continuation of existing arrangements, option three is a single contract award and option four is the award of two contracts.

The Panel was informed of the Working Groups opinions on each of the options and recommend that the Panel should recommend that Cabinet adopt option four of awarding two contracts along the lines of advice based services and infrastructure based services.

The Working Group recognises the value of the voluntary sector and did not support option one. Option two was rejected as it does not fit the commissioning and outcomes model and is not in line with National Association for Voluntary and Community Action guidance. Option three was found not to be cost effective as it would necessitate significant changes in the sector, which could prove costly; however it remains an option for future funding arrangements. The Working Group therefore decided that option four was the best option.

Members were pleased with the option presented as the report shows that the Working Group had carried out a lot of research and that the conclusions reached are well thought through.

Following a question regarding option one, Members were informed that option one still remains a possibility as the decision is Cabinet’s however the Working Group had considered other options but are recommending option four.

In response to a question regarding the funding of Shopmobility, the Panel was advised that the Working Group did not review funding arrangements with individual charities but reviewed the problems the voluntary sector are currently facing. In addition a procurement exercise would follow from the report and it is important not to show favour by naming individual organisations.

The Working Group informed Members of the three options they considered in relation to the duration of the contract. Option A is funding to 31st March 2020, Option B is alignment with the County Council contract which runs until 31st August 2017 and Option C is extending funding until 31st March 2021. The Panel was informed that the Working Group recommend Option C as the decision for awarding of funding beyond 2021 would be removed from the election timetable. Consequently this would mean that the voluntary sector funding could be considered and awarded apolitically.

Members supported the recommendation of Option C as a sensible idea as it means that the voluntary sector won’t be treated politically.

The Working Group considered how the funding should be allocated annually. Following the submission of the Voluntary Sector Grant Funding 2016/17 to 2019/2020 report at the Cabinet meeting in January 2016 the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18