Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members, officers and those observing via YouTube to the meeting, the inaugural meeting of the Committee following its appointment by the Bridge House Estates Board on 15 September.

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations.

To note the Committee’s terms of reference.

The Committee noted its terms of reference, as agreed by the Bridge House Estates (BHE) Board.

To note a summary of the Bridging Divides programme.

The Committee noted a summary of the Bridging Divides programme.

Report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates (BHE)

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE providing an update on key areas of activity and outlining upcoming activities. The Managing Director of BHE introduced the report and the Committee discussed the updates provided.

Wembley National Stadium Trust (WSNT)

The Managing Director of BHE advised that City Bridge Trust (CBT) was seeking to extend the existing contract with WSNT by two years, to March 2024, the existing contract having worked well for both organisations, and demonstrating one of CBT’s key values in collaboration and working with other funders. The Committee agreed that the contract should be extended.

Nomination to LocalMotion

The Managing Director of BHE updated the Committee on the LocalMotion funder collaboration, to which CBT was a contributor, and advised that CBT was seeking the nomination of one Member to act as a LocalMotion “Board Champion” attending two to six cross-initiative learning meetings per year to increase understanding of the work at board level and foster connections directly between places and Board Members. The Chair asked that Members consider whether they would like to be nominated and get in touch with him and the Managing Director if so. The Committee then agreed to delegate authority to appoint to the position following the meeting.

Learning Case Study – SafeLives

The Managing Director of BHE drew the Committee’s attention to the learning case study set out in the report. The Managing Director advised that CBT had not yet resumed in-person assessment or monitoring visits, but was  looking to do so as soon as possible and with regards to latest guidance on Covid-19. In response to question from a Member, the Managing Director of BHE then confirmed that learning points from case studies were reintegrated into the work of CBT with a view to assisting grantees and future

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE providing an update on the 11 recommendations that were approved by the former City Bridge Trust (CBT) Committee in March 2021 following the Interim Bridging Divides Funding Strategy Review carried out from December 2020 to March 2021. The Managing Director of BHE introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points.

In response to a question from the Deputy Chair regarding the core conversion offer to grantees, the Managing Director of BHE confirmed that multiple communications of the offer had been made, and the offer had subsequently been reviewed in conjunction with CBT’s learning partner. The feedback received was that whilst many organisations were likely to have been too busy to give full consideration to the offer, CBT could have been clearer in setting out the value and benefits of core conversation to the grantees.

The Committee noted the formal recommendation to recommend to BHE Board and the Court of Common Council to re-commit to and extend the Bridging Divides strategy by a further five years. The Managing Director of BHE advised that the Court of Common Council would be asked to re-commit to the framework of the strategy, and that the formal wording would be brought back for approval ahead of its submission. The Chair added that the recommendations would be subject to the discussion in non-public session regarding strategic funding.

RESOLVED – That the Grants Committee of the BHE Board:

a)    Note the report; and

b)    Agree to recommend to the Bridge House Estates Board and Court of Common Council to re-commit to the overarching vision and mission of Bridging Divides 2018-2023 and recommend extending it for a further five years to 2028.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE providing the Committee with details of funds approved under delegated authority since the last meeting of the City Bridge Trust (CBT) Committee in March 2021 through to 16th September 2021; plus, any grant variations that have been approved under delegated authority and seeking approval for 1 grant application above the delegated authority threshold and 4 grant application rejections. The Managing Director of BHE introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points, also advising that details of recent London Community Response Fund (LCRF) grants would be circulated to Members following the meeting. The Chair commented that the former CBT Committee had received a heatmap illustrating the distribution of funding across London and asked that this be brought to the Committee as part of the update reports on grant funding.

The Committee then considered the grant applications appended to the report, and agreed the recommendations. The Committee then considered the applications recommended for rejection. In response to a question from a Member, the Managing Director of BHE confirmed that feedback was always offered to applicants following rejections, and that organisations were required to wait one year from the date of the original submission before reapplying. The Committee then further discussed the reasons for the recommendations to reject applications.

In response to a question from a Member, the Managing Director of BHE advised that officers were still working through many applications received following the unpausing of new applications, and that there would be more recommendations in respect of grant applications at future meetings.

The Committee then noted variations to a number of grants set out in the report. The Chair advised that learning points could be added to the commentary alongside grant variations, as it was useful for Members

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee received a report of the Managing Director of BHE providing a financial update for the period ended 31 August 2021 and an updated forecast outturn for the financial year ending 31 March 2022. The Managing Director of BHE introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE asking Members to reconsider CBT officer delegations for grant approvals, recommending that the existing temporary officer delegations be authorised on a permanent basis, and that grant application rejections be included in these revised delegated authority arrangements. The Committee noted that, in addition to these delegations, the BHE Board had agreed that decisions on the award of funding of more than £500,000 for a grant, project or activity would be reserved to the BHE Board upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee.

The Committee discussed whether a mechanism for consulting the full Committee on grants within the delegated authority thresholds would be appropriate, in order that any comments or question could be made for the Chair and Deputy Chair to consider before deciding the application. Members felt that this could be beneficial for the consideration of some applications, and agreed to discuss the proposals further in non-public session.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

The Chair then thanked Members of the public observing via YouTube for their attendance.

MOTION – With the Court of Common Council for the City Corporation as Trustee

of Bridge House Estates (Charity No. 1035628) having decided to treat these

meetings as though Part VA and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

applied to them, it now be moved that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that their consideration will in each case disclose exempt information of the description in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of any person (including the City Corporation as Trustee of the charity) which it would not be in the charity’s best interests to disclose.

RESOLVED – That with the Court of Common Council for the City Corporation as Trustee of Bridge House Estates (Charity No. 1035628) having decided to treat these meetings as though Part VA and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 applied to them, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that their consideration will in each case disclose exempt information of the description in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A, being information relating to the financial and business affairs of any person (including the City Corporation as Trustee of the charity) which it would not be in the charity’s best interests to disclose.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee received a report of the Managing Director of BHE.

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee received a report of the Managing Director of BHE.

The Managing Director of BHE to be heard.

The Committee discussed Strategic Funding.

There were no questions.

There was one item of other business.