Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Paul Martinelli, Wendy Mead and Ian Seaton.

The Deputy Chair and Deputy Edward Lord declared standing interests by virtue of being trustees of Trust for London.

To agree the minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 30 January 2020.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 30 January 2020 were noted and Members present confirmed that they were a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk

Members received a list of outstanding actions, noting those which were on the agenda or were scheduled for a future date or meeting.

Report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust (CGO)

Members received the regular progress report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust (CGO) and discussed the updates provided.

COVID-19

The Deputy Director of City Bridge Trust (CBT) gave Members an overview of work CBT had undertaken in response to the developing coronavirus outbreak, firstly work with London Funders towards setting up a pooled fund to support London’s civil society organisations adversely affected by the outbreak. Members noted that Bridging Divides funding had been approved for use towards the scheme, and that CBT would be heavily involved throughout. The Deputy Director advised that there was a further proposal in relation to the scheme later in the agenda. Members noted that several CBT officers, including the CGO had been seconded to the London-wide response operation based at London Bridge.

The Deputy Director advised that the applications to the scheme would be considered by CBT, and therefore the Committee’s delegated authority policy may need to be amended to facilitate the scheme. Furthermore, the wider Scheme of Delegations may need to be amended to enable the Deputy Director of CBT to formally deputise for the CGO.

Members then discussed the response in support of the City of London community and residents, noting that this was co-ordinated by the Department of Community and Children’s Services. Members were advised that various community groups and volunteers had been mobilised in support.

Report of the CGO

Members received a report of the CGO summarising grant applications recommended for decision at the meeting, and those that had been considered since the last meeting under schemes of delegation.

To consider the CGO’s reports on grant recommendations as follows: -

Report of the CGO

Members considered a report of the CGO advising Members of funds recommended for approval for amounts between £100,000 and £250,000, including strategic initiatives. In response to a question from the Deputy Chair, officers confirmed and explained their support for all applications proceeding, in light of the developing COVID-19 situation and the impact this may have on organisations.

It was agreed that Members approve the recommended amounts for the following applications:

1.         Castlehaven Community Association

£143,000 over three years (£46,000; £46,500; £50,500) towards the full-time salary and associated running costs of the Greenworks Co-ordinator plus project running costs. Release of funds in Year 1 is conditional on a satisfactory budget for 2020-21 being provided.

2.         Council of Somali Organisations

£145,000 over three years (£49,000; £48,000; £48,000) towards a 0.6FTE salary and associated costs of a project to support SCVOs in influencing decisions affecting Somalis in London. Release of the grant in years 2 and 3 is subject to management accounts evidencing progress in reducing the gap between free unrestricted reserves and the policy target.

3.         St. Margaret’s House Settlement

£104,960 over three years (£36,340; £34,380; £34,240) towards the

salary, running and project management costs of the arts programme for

disabled adults.

4.         St. Paul’s Church West Hackney

£105,000 over 3 years (3x35,000) towards the Posh Club Co-Ordinator’s salary (3.5dpw), Kitchen Manager’s salary (1dpw) and towards associated running costs to deliver 30 x 4-hour TPC events per annum for older people.

5.         Young Camden Foundation

£135,000 over three years (£50,000; £45,000; £40,000) as core funding to support the Young Camden Foundation’s work for voluntary sector

organisations working with children and young people.

6.         Alliance for Inclusive Education

£109,700 over two further and final years (£54,400; £55,300) towards an Inclusion Champion post (2.5 days per week), the Policy Co-ordinator (0.5 days per week)

Report of the CGO

Members considered a report of the CGO advising Members of funds recommended for approval for amounts of £250,000 or above. It was agreed that Members approve the recommended amounts for the following applications:

13.       Children Ahead Ltd

£250,000 over five years (5 x £50,000) towards the costs of psychotherapeutic and other mental health support to young people, both boys and girls. Release of year 2 of the grant is conditional on the charity having recruited at least one woman to the Board of Trustees.

14.       Froglife Trust

£244,200 over five years (£46,500; £47,400; £48,700; £50,000; £51,600) for the salary of a f/t Project Manager and running costs for the Leaping Forward for Dementia project.

15.       Rushey Green Timebank (RGTB)

£323,500 over 5 years (5 x £64,700) towards a f/t Director of Lewisham Local plus associated running costs for the development and consolidation of Lewisham Local.

16.       Chinese Mental Health Association

£260,900 over 5 years (£50,700; £51,600; £52,600; £52,500; £53,500) for a Coordinator (0.8FTE), Support Worker (0.2FTE), volunteer expenses and running costs for the Chinese Wellbeing Service.

17.       Graeae Theatre Company

£260,400 (£49,920; £50,968; £52,048; £53,159; £54,304) towards the 0.8FTE salary costs of the Training and Learning Co-ordinator and associated costs of the Rollettes, The Young Company and The Ensemble Intensive training programmes.

18.       Jewish Women’s Aid

£248,700 over 5 years (£47,300; £48,500; £49,700; £51,000; £52,200) for a Domestic Abuse Worker (35 hpw) and associated costs for its London service.

19.       Kids Can Achieve

£183,600 over three years (£60,000; £61,200; £62,400) towards the salary of one f/t Family Worker; individual and family therapy sessions and a contribution to building and organisational running costs.

20.       Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust

£200,000 over five years (5 x £40,000) towards the salary and on costs of a Senior Welfare Rights and Benefits

Report of the CGO

Members considered a report of the CGO advising of funds to be approved that would usually be approved under delegated authority, but were presented instead to the Committee in order to be able to confirm the total grants awarded this financial year. 

It was agreed that Members approve the recommended amounts for the following applications:

21.       Just for Kids Law

£100,000 over three years (£45,000; £35,000; £20,000) of core support for JFKL’s holistic casework in London, including rent and core expenditure.

22.       Cripplegate Foundation

£95,000 over 2 further and final years (£40,000, £55,000) towards staffing and operational costs of the Saturday Socials older persons programme delivered through Islington Giving.

23.       Rushey Green Timebank (RGTB)

£94,000 over 2 further and final years (£49,800, £44,200) towards the salary of a p/t (21 hpw) Co-ordinator and freelance sessional staff and associated costs of maintaining and developing the community green space.

24.       Sound Minds

£63,000 over five years (£15,000; £14,000; £13,000; £12,000: £9,000) for core costs to underpin the successful running of the organisation through and beyond the recruitment and hand-over of a new CEO.

25.       Wac Arts

£100,000 towards the capital costs of improved access facilities to the Old Town Hall.

Members considered a report of the CGO outlining a total of 16 grant applications that were recommended for rejection. In response to a question from a Member, officers confirmed that feedback and greater detail around the reasons for recommending rejection of an application were shared with the organisations through contact with officers. Members agreed to reject the grant applications listed in the accompanying schedule.

Members received a report of the CGO which advised Members of 23 expenditure items, totalling £1,036,842, which had been presented for approval under delegated authority to the CGO in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chair.</AI13><AI14>

Members received a report of the CGO which provided details of 12 applications which had been withdrawn or had lapsed.

Members </AI14><AI15>received a report of the CGO which advised of a variation to ten grants agreed by the CGO since the last meeting.

Members received a report of the CGO providing a progress update on the Young Londoners Fund (YLF) strategic initiative delivered in partnership with the Greater London Authority. The report covered CBT funding to the GLA to assist with their delivery of network support to YLF grantees.

MemberMembers received a report of the CGO about two visits that had taken place. Members discussed the outcomes arising from the visits and were advised of ongoing Impact & Learning work around CBT’s ability to facilitate peer support, networking and knowledge-sharing between organisations as part of CBT’s Total Assets approach.

Members received a report of the CGO providing an update on the communications work of City Bridge Trust.

Report of the Town Clerk

Members received a report of the Town Clerk reporting action related to the COVID-19 Response taken by the Town Clerk since the last meeting of the Committee, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chair, in accordance with Standing Order No. 41(a). <AI19>

In response to a question from a Member, officers advised on the state of accounting and reporting by CBT and other charities in light of the developing COVID-19 situation. Officers confirmed that they were providing resources and guidance to be shared with other organisations and posted on the CBT website.

In response to a question from a Member, the Deputy Director of CBT confirmed that CBT was receiving enquiries from organisations with crisis experience and direct appeals for emergencies, and were engaging accordingly. In response to another query from a Member, officers advised on the possibility of instances of fraud arising from the COVID-19 outbreak and assured that this would be raised and picked up as appropriate.

There was no other business.

MOTION – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No.                                              Exempt Paragraphs

13 - 16                                                            3

17                                                                    -

18                                                                    3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2020.

Members considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2020.

Report of the CGO

Members considered a report of the CGO.

Report of the CGO

Members received a report of the CGO.

Report of the CGO

Members received a report of the CGO.

There were no questions.

There was other business.