Agenda item

To receive a report on recent meetings of the Voluntary Sector Working Group.

15 Minutes.

Pursuant to Minute No. 11/54, the Panel gave consideration to a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome of the Voluntary Sector Working Group’s investigations into the potential impact on demand for District Council services of reductions in the services currently procured from voluntary organisations through Service Level Agreements. The report also included an outline of the functions that the Working Group believed should be undertaken by the voluntary sector in Huntingdonshire.

The Panel considered the Working Group’s findings in respect of the potential future demand for District Council services. The Huntingdonshire Citizens Advice Bureau was the only organisation the Council currently commissioned that undertook functions that were also the responsibility of the Council. It was anticipated that any budgetary proposals that would impact on the future viability of the organisation would result in approximately 9,000 additional customers seeking assistance from the Council. It was stressed that this figure did not include additional services that were provided by the CAB such as debt, immigration and unemployment. Members were advised that an increase in customers could potentially require the Council to provide additional resources in the region of £60,000 which equated to an additional 2.5 (full time equivalent) employees.

The Panel was informed of potential financial liabilities that the Council might incur if the Hunts Forum for Voluntary Organisations’ funding was reduced. Responsibility for the management of the Maple Centre would transfer back to the District Council, resulting in additional costs to the Council, which were estimated to be around £25,000 per annum.

The Panel endorsed the Working Group’s suggestions that when deciding how the Council would engage with voluntary organisations in the future the Council should adopt the priorities listed below:-

·  service providers that were able to provide evidence of financial sustainability for example by actively searching for external and/or match funding opportunities;

·  advice services for debt, benefits and unemployment;

·  activities and services that facilitated a level of independence for those people otherwise dependent on the service and support of carers and others;

·  services and activities that increased the chances of young people obtaining and/or maintaining paid unemployment; and

·  services that supported the growth of the voluntary and community sector in Huntingdonshire and provided support mechanisms by which that growth could be achieved, including sourcing funding by other voluntary bodies.

In addition, it was suggested that the services provided should be accessible to all residents across the District. It was further suggested that a combination of both grant aid and commissioning models should be employed by the Council to fund future voluntary activity within the District, together with a community chest through which other voluntary organisations could apply for small grants. It was noted that the views of the Working Group had been taken into account by the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities and would form the basis of the Voluntary Sector Support item due for consideration by the Panel at its next meeting.