Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Deputy Town Clerk concerning the outcome of the cross-cutting review of the City Corporation’s grant giving activities.

The Sub-Committee commended officers on the review and the content of the report and acknowledged that it was work in progress as there was more work to be done in terms of ensuring consistency. During discussion a number of comments were made which included the following:-

·                a further category should be created to accommodate grants made to institutions as part of the City’s Heritage e.g. the Reserves Forces and Cadets Association, St Lawrence Jewry and the City Scouts;

·                in view of the fact that it was proposed that Finance Grants Sub-Committee’s grant giving activity should cease, a Member questioned whether it was necessary for the Sub-Committee to carry on. Members acknowledged that this was a matter for the Finance Committee and supported a suggestion that strategic oversight and performance management should be given to that Committee rather than to its Sub-Committee as this would allow the Finance Committee to determine how best to monitor grant activities;

·                reference was made to the Signor Pasquale Favale Bequest. It was noted that it attracted a lot of kudos and publicity in return for the small sums it dispensed each year and therefore it was important to ensure that it continued. Members were advised that how it was dealt with would be a matter for the committee it was allocated to. It was also suggested that the Bequest be considered as party of the poverty relief category.

RESOLVED - That it be recommended to the Grand Committee that:-

1.      the proposed change of approach to grant giving as proposed in the report and in Appendix 2 be approved;

2.      responsibility for strategic oversight and performance management of the City Corporation’s grant giving activities be given to the Finance Committee rather than to its Finance Grants Sub-Committee;

3.      the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee be authorised to:-

·           set the annual quantum for each City’s Cash and City Fund grants programme (including for City’s Cash funded open spaces grants)

·           consider annual performance reports for all grants programmes from the Finance Committee.

4.      subject to the approval of (3), above the Sub-Committee’s terms of reference be altered accordingly.