Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services on grant aid awards for 2013-14 and details of interim arrangements for advisory services in January-March 2013.

15 Minutes.

(Councillor T D Sanderson, Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was informed of the decisions that had been taken relating to the 2013/14 grant aid awards and the interim arrangements for advisory services during the January to March 2013 period. In introducing the report, the Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities drew Members’ attention to those organisations who would receive grant aid funding for a period of three years from April 2013 onwards together with the level of funding awarded. He further reported that an agreement had been reached with Cambridgeshire County Council that Rural Cambs CAB’s offices would be located within St Neots Library from April 2013 onwards. The Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities advised Members that the interim arrangements for advisory services to the end of March 2013 were being phased in, before the delivery of a full service commenced on 1st April 2013.

In response to a question by the Chairman, it was confirmed that during the transitionary period, those seeking advice were being signposted to other service providers within the District. Questions were then raised by Councillor Mrs P A Jordan on the number of former Huntingdonshire CAB volunteers who had migrated over to Rural Cambs CAB and whether or not training opportunities would remain available to volunteers of the Rural Cambs CAB organisation. The Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities undertook to clarify both matters outside of the meeting and to submit a response directly to Councillor Mrs Jordan.

Following discussion on the need to monitor the performance of the organisations awarded grant funding, the Panel was reminded that the Voluntary Sector Working Group would undertake this task and that the Working Group could request additional meetings if it was deemed necessary. Arising from this, Councillor R J West urged Members to contact the Working Group if they had any concerns over the new arrangements.

The Panel was reminded that all grant aid awards would be tapered and that a Community Chest of up to £30,000 would also be made available to voluntary organisations who could bid for funding for community based projects up to the value of £500. Discussion then ensued on the level of funding awarded to Rural Cambs CAB for the delivery of the interim service and whether this figure differed from the amount that would have been paid to the former Huntingdonshire CAB for the final quarter of 2012/13. The Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities undertook to clarify this matter and to report back thereon to the Panel outside of the meeting.

Having received assurances that the delivery of outreach services provided by Rural Cambs CAB in St Ives, Ramsey and Yaxley was based on previous service level data, it was

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report now submitted be noted.