Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Public Meeting (Accessible Remotely)

Contact: Joseph Anstee
tel. no.: 020 7332 1480  Email: joseph.anstee@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

At the start of the meeting, the Chairman welcomed Members and those watching the live broadcast of the meeting via YouTube, before reminding Members of the guidance circulated for the conducting of remote meetings.

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Seaton.

 

The Chairman then paid tribute to Ian Seaton on his last meeting of the Committee, and the Committee gave thanks for his contributions during his valuable service as a Member of the Committee.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

Jannat Hossain (Co-opted Member) declared a personal interest in Item 8b (13).

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 183 KB

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

 

b) To receive the note of the inquorate meeting on 26 March 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That

 

a)    the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 30 January 2020 be agreed as an accurate record; and

 

b)    the public notes of the informal virtual meeting held on 26 March 2020 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Outstanding Actions pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – That the Outstanding Actions update be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Progress Report pdf icon PDF 94 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the regular progress report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust (CGO) and discussed the updates and recommendations provided.

 

Black Lives Matter

The CGO advised the Committee that, having funded projects that increase support for, engagement with and equality within BAME groups for some time, City Bridge Trust (CBT) aimed to use the current energy in supporting equality to create and develop an ambitious CBT action plan in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, whilst also connecting with other City of London Corporation work through the Tackling Racism Taskforce. The CGO introduced Dinah Cox, who had been engaged on a consultancy basis to support this work. Dinah Cox then introduced herself to the Committee and gave Members an overview of her background and strategy to support City Bridge Trust, before inviting Members and officers to get in touch with any thoughts about the initiative.

 

Members then proceeded to discuss the proposal, commenting on City Bridge Trust’s previous work, process, and interaction with the Black Lives Matter movement. In response to comments from Members, the CGO gave assurances that the Committee would be kept informed and involved on this work. Feedback from Members would be taken on board and any further views from Members were welcomed.

 

COVID-19

The CGO gave the Committee an update on work undertaken by CBT in response to the COVID-19 emergency and drew Members’ attention to recommendations for continuing this work. In response to a question from a Member, the CGO gave the Committee further detail on CBT resource and staff commitments since March, and following the pause on new grant applications. The Committee would be updated on the capacity level of CBT at each meeting going forward.

 

Developmental work of City Bridge Invest

In response to a question from a

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Bridge House Estates Strategy: Bridging London, 2020 - 2045 pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the CGO presenting the proposed final version of the Bridge House Estates (BHE) Strategy: Bridging London, 2020 – 2045. The Town Clerk introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points. By way of feedback, Members suggested that the Chairman of City Bridge Trust Committee be a signatory to the foreword of the strategy, and that the strategy should make clear how impact would be reported and communicated. The Town Clerk advised that an implementation plan for the strategy was to follow and would take this into account.

 

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee:

 

a)    Endorse the proposed final version of the BHE Strategy, subject to any feedback received being incorporated, for onward approval by the Court of Common Council; and

 

b)    Note the proposed next steps for the Strategy’s delivery.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Grants Budget and Applications Today pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

The Committee 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.

 

A Member asked about the take-up on CBT’s offer to current Bridging Divides grantees to convert a proportion of their current grant funding from specific project funding to core cost funding for up to a year. The CGO advised that over 100 organisations had responded to the offer, with the majority wishing to convert a proportion of their grant funding. The offer was still available to any organisation and officers would follow-up with organisations who had yet to respond. The Chairman advised that he had received positive feedback on this action and thanked officers.

 

In response to a question from a Member, the CGO advised that officers were looking ahead to build on work undertaken as part of the ‘Responding to Resilience Risk’ strategic initiative and add further work arising from the COVID-19 emergency.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Grants and Strategic Initiatives Recommendations and Assessments pdf icon PDF 208 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

8a

Grants Recommended of Over £250,000 for Approval pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8a

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the CGO advising Members of funds recommended for approval for amounts of £250,000 or above. The CGO introduced the application to Members and outlined the proposal.

 

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee receive the report and approve the recommended amount for the following application:

 

  1. Inclusion Barnet

 

APPROVED £284,000 over five years (£55,000; £55,000; £57,000; £57,000; £60,000) for the salary costs of a p/t (3dpw) Peer Advocacy Lead; the CEO as sector representation lead (1 dpw); a Project Co-ordinator (1 dpw); and management and related costs of a project supporting voice for disabled people and disability organisations.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

8b

Funds Ordinarily Approved under Delegated Authority pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8b

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the CGO advising Members of funds to be approved that would usually be approved under delegated but are presented instead to the Committee in order to be able to confirm the total grants awarded this financial year. The CGO advised the Committee that details of the grants made through the London Community Response Fund (LCRF) would also be circulated to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee receive the report and approve the recommended amounts for the following applications:

 

2. Action on Disability

 

APPROVED £220,800 over five years (£44,500; £42,800; £43,230; £45,970; £44,300) towards staff costs, sessional costs and overheads for programmes with young people.

 

3. Advocacy Now

 

APPROVED £250,000 over five years (5 x £50,000) towards the salary of a Volunteer Co-ordinator and associated costs including volunteer expenses.

 

4. Cardboard Citizens

 

APPROVED £152,420 over three years (£51,670; £52,740; £48,010) towards developing and embedding trauma informed practice into CC’s programme and promoting the value of this approach more widely throughout the arts-based sector.

 

5. Carers Trust

 

APPROVED £189,000 over three years (£65,000; £63,000; £61,000) for the London Network Capacity Building Project Manager (f/t) and associated project running costs and management costs.

 

6. Caxton Youth

 

APPROVED £250,000 over five years (5 x £50,000) for the Organisation salary costs of a f/t Lead Youth Worker and related management and activity costs of the

Social & Emotional Wellbeing Programme. The grant cannot be used for minibus or residential costs.

 

7. Centre for Charity Effectiveness

 

APPROVED £19,200 towards a series of 12 podcasts on how charities are responding to the Covid-19 crisis.

 

 

8. Havering Women's Aid

 

APPROVED £127,500 over five years (£25,000; £25,250; £25,500; £25,750; £26,000) to cover the salary of a Young Persons Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor. Additional costs such as N.I and pension will

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

9.

To consider reports of the CGO as follows: -

Minutes:

9a

Applications Recommended for Rejection pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the CGO outlining a total of 8 grant applications that were recommended for rejection.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee reject the grant applications listed in the accompanying schedule.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9a

9b

Funds Approved or Declined under Delegated Authority pdf icon PDF 194 KB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO which advised Members of 34 expenditure items, totalling £3,364,210, which had been presented for approval under delegated authority to the CGO in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chair.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9b

9c

Withdrawn and Lapsed Applications pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO which provided details of threeapplications which had been withdrawn or had lapsed.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9c

9d

Variations to Grants/Funds Awarded pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO which advised Members of a variation toone grant agreed by the CGO since the last meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9d

9e

City Bridge Trust Communications and Events Attended pdf icon PDF 297 KB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO providing Members with an update on the communications work of City Bridge Trust. The Committee noted positive coverage arising from the LCRF and other collaborative work.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9e

10.

Report of Action Taken pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Report of the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk advising Members of actions 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 Nos. 41(a).

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

The Deputy Chair asked a question regarding the CBT view of those charities who have furloughed their employees and thereby reduced costs, but have also reduced their capability, and whether there was any stigma attached to such actions which might impact any decision to fund them in the future.

 

The CGO responded that early on in the COVID-19 CBT developed common lines for funding managers to signpost organisations to resources such as emergency funding or legal advice. Organisations had been considered on a case-by-case basis and where they had advised on furloughed staff that were funded by CBT, grants had been reprofiled and the risk of double-funding avoided. The CGO further advised that it was hoped there would not be stigma attached to use of the furlough scheme and that funders would join CBT in taking a sympathetic stance, with further conversations on the impact of COVID-19 and learning points still to come.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Any other business that the Chairman considers to be urgent

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

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

14 – 16                                                            3

17                                                                    3,5

18 – 19                                                            3

20 – 21                                                            -

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Non-Public Minutes

a)    To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2020; and

 

b)    To receive the non-public note of the inquorate meeting on 26 March 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That

 

a)    the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2020 be agreed as an accurate record; and

 

b)    the non-public notes of the informal virtual meeting on 26 March 2020 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Pipeline of Pro-Active Strategic Grants

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

CBT Strategy Report

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the CGO.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Bridge House Estates Strategic Review - Update Four

Report of the Town Clerk and the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk and the CGO.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Learning Case Study about London Youth - Supporting Youth Workers During Lockdown

Report of the CGO

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the CGO.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Non-Public Report of Action Taken

Report of the Town Clerk

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the Committee agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There was no other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.