Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Ian Seaton.

John Fletcher declared an interest as a member of two groups which receive small grants under the small grants scheme: Portsoken Ward Club, Portsoken Activities Group.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 12 November 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the minutes of the previous meeting held 12 November 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

Matters arising: Benefits in Kind policy for reporting data to be reviewed. An update report will be brought to the Sub-Committee at a future meeting.

Report of the Chief Grants Officer & Director of City Bridge Trust.

Members considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer and Director of City Bridge Trust relative to the Central Grants Programme (CGP) and Central Grants Unit (CGU) updates and next steps, including proposed amendments to the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference.

It was noted that the expanded Terms of Reference would reflect the oversight of the Benefits in Kind, and oversight of the general activities of the CGU which now extend beyond the CGP.

With respect to grants, Inspiring London Through Culture had received 16 applications following the recent deadline and applications were under review. A report is scheduled to be presented to the Community & Children’s Services Committee for grants under £3000.

A report will be brought to the next Sub-Committee meeting indicating how the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund will be allocated. The report will outline the processes and reporting framework to the Committee.

The proposed extended Terms of Reference will be brought to the next Finance Committee meeting on 18 February 2020 for agreement.

RESOVED, that Members –

1.    note the CGP an CGU progress update report; and,

2.    recommend to the Finance Committee the proposed changes to the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the City Advice Service. The service received a £100,000 City’s Cash Grant, which was listed in the approved/proposed budgets for 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years. Approval is to be sought from the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee for the continuation of the grant to the City Advice Service for a further three to five financial years to facilitate a new contract.

The following additional information regarding outputs and outcomes of the City Advise Service up to September was noted:

-       46 cases of individuals avoided repossession, including where a client or referrer indicated there was a threat of repossession;

-       104 cases of intervention of removing the threat of homelessness, including where a client or referrer indicated there was a risk of homelessness;

-       142 cases of care and support planning for vulnerable adults (meeting Care Act 2014 statutory requirements);

-       115 cases of debt reduction;

-       Financial outcome of £859,694 for 231 cases, which includes all financial outcomes such as debt write off, benefits and entitlements. This was against a contract spend of £900,000;

-       410 cases of providing legal advice, excluding for matters of debt and welfare;

-       40 cases of successful tribunals and appeals;

-       42 cases of employment cases being resolved before court action;

-       4081 website page views and visits (from April-September 2019);

-       some clients received more than one outcome in complex cases.

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RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

There were no questions.

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 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED, 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 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 November 2019.

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held 12 November 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Grants Officer & Director of City Bridge Trust.

Members received a report of the Chief Grants Officer & Director of City Bridge Trust relative to an update on the Corporate Charities Review.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.

There were no questions.

There was one item of other business.