Agenda and minutes

Apologies for lateness were received from Alderman Alison Gowman.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 17 September 2020.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 17 September 2020 be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk

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.

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

The Committee considered the regular progress report of the CGO and discussed the updates and recommendations provided.

Black Training & Enterprise Group (BTEG)

The Committee welcomed Jeremy Crook, CEO of Black Training & Enterprise Group (BTEG), to speak to Members about Moving on Up (MoU), a joint initiative of BTEG, Trust for London and City Bridge Trust which aimed to reduce the major disparity in employment rates between young Black men and their White counterparts.

The Moving on Up initiative started in 2014, with the aim of seeing all young Londoners reach their full potential and secure employment with good progression opportunities. MoU sought to address issues such as high unemployment, underrepresentation in key sectors, and lower take-up of training amongst young Black males. During the first phase of the initiative, different models for supporting young Black men into jobs were tested, with nearly 300 securing jobs as a result. The initiative then moved into a second phase in 2018, featuring components such as a GLA Workforce Integration Network, Employer Champions Groups, MoU Collective Impact Partnerships, an Inclusive Employers toolkit, Email message testing and MoU ambassadors.

Moving on Up was currently the only initiative targeting young Black males in the UK, and had now reached a stage where they wanted to share their learning and open up to other groups. In response to questions from Members, the Committee was advised that Moving on Up supported and contributed to a number of other initiatives with a focus on BAME communities. The initiative had made progress in getting employers on board, having experienced a slow start, but there was still some progress to be made in increasing and improving the dialogue amongst employers. Employers occasionally contacted Moving on Up asking for help or reaching out, and there was a will to improve recruitment processes,

Report of the CGO

The Committee received a report of the CGO presenting the mid-year review of progress towards implementing the Bridging Divides strategy by learning partner Renaisi. The CGO introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points, noting that initial findings had been presented at the strategic away half-day.

The CGO highlighted the four themes of the review, around collaboration, equality, diversity and inclusion, pan-London strategic work in response to COVID-19, and CBT’s identity as a funder. The CGO also highlighted the significant amount achieved, the need to take stock and reflect on things, and the need to look and balance short, medium and long-term priorities. The CGO advised that next steps and recommendations were set out, and officers would be coming together to look at taking them forward.

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee note information on progress towards implementing Bridging Divides to date, including key learning points and recommendations, as presented in the report.

Report of the CGO

The Committee considered a report of the CGO concerning the Strategic Initiative Responding to the Resilience Risk (RRR). The CGO introduced the report before summarising the key learning points if the initiative so far and explaining the proposals set out for the Committee. The CGO added that officers hoped to provide a further update to the next meeting.

A Member congratulated officers on the progress made and reiterated their commitment and support to the work in this area.

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee:

a)    Agree to support the development and delivery of the Strategic Initiative, Responding to the Resilience Risk 2 (RRR2) at an estimated cost of up to £500,000 as set out inparagraph 28 of the report, and that £500,000 shall be ring-fenced from CBT’s centralrisk budget (for non-grants expenditure) for this purpose;

b)    Agree for Bridge Houses Estates (1035628) that the RRR2 project should be delivered in collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama which will provide support from the City Corporation on a cost-recovery basis, that a Memorandum of Understanding be agreed to provide clarity in the collaboration including that any intellectual property rights created through the project shall be owned by the City Corporation as trustee of Bridge House Estates and for the City Corporation itself (City’s Cash);

c)    Agree that unused funds of £43,361 from phase one, Responding to the Resilience Risk, allocated in March 2019 for expenditure in 2019-20 and 2020-21, will be written back;

d)    Confirm support for the application to the Oak Foundation for £200,000 funding for the RRR2 programme and, should the application be successful, to accept the grant subject to agreeing grant terms and conditions which are acceptable to Bridge House Estates;

e)    Delegate authority to the CGO to negotiate and agree

Report of the CGO

The Committee considered a report of the CGO presenting for approval the CBT high-level summary Business Plan and budget estimates for 2021/22. The CGO introduced the report, also drawing Members’ attention to the key points and a list of key areas of CBT’s activity set out in the report.

In response to a question from the Chair, the Chamberlain advised the Committee on the different treatment of income between the five-year funding allocation for the Bridging Divides Strategy, and the additional allocation of £200 million from Bridge House Estates agreed by the Court of Common Council during 2020, and the budgeting implications consequent to this. The Chamberlain added that this was a complex time and reiterated that decisions needed to be mindful of the environment in which they were made.

In response to a question from a Member, the CGO then gave Members clarification on the forecast outturn for 2020/21 and the financial planning undertaken during the current financial year, in light of the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CGO advised that this would be presented for review at the next meeting of the Committee, but officers would keep Members updated as plans develop.

A Member recalled the Committee’s previous commitment to use existing Bridging Divides funding towards the COVID-19 response, rather than the additional £200 million allocation, and the CGO advised that planning had been done on this basis. However, this would require further discussion in January 2021. The intention remained that a significant proportion of the additional allocation would be allocated for proactive, strategic grant-making. The CGO then gave the Committee an update on CBT’s social investment work and advised that a strategy for taking this forward was still in development, with movement expected during 2021.

A Member commented that an overall view and broad outline

Report of the CGO

The Committee considered a report of the CGO providing the City Bridge Trust Committee’s section of the key risks register for Bridge House Estates (BHE) for review. The CGO introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points, including developments since the previous review.

In response to questions from a Member, the CGO advised that officers were engaged with others in preparing for the impact of Brexit and identifying risks to funding in areas such as food, also accounting for the overlaying impact of COVID-19. The CGO further advised that there were a number of mitigation factors for auditing grants after they had been awarded, including quarterly release of funds, reviewing organisational finances on assessment and on an annual basis, and monitoring reports. A programme of compliance and unannounced visits were employed, although these were currently suspended and would be reviewed in January. However, Funding Managers continued to flag compliance triggers.

The CGO also advised that there were very few organisations in the general portfolio in receipt of European funding, and for those that did the assessment process would have considered the balance of income that they had in order to assess security going forward.

A Member queried why CBT had not been able to reduce impact on financial loss, as impact and likelihood had increased. The CGO advised that they follow up on this point and report back.

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee:

a)    Review the six risks currently on the register for this Committee and confirm that appropriate control measures are in place; and

b)    Confirm that there are no other risks relating to the services overseen by the CBT Committee which should be added to the BHE Risk Register.

Report of the CGO

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Report of the CGO

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 item and advised the Committee of the current state of play regarding the application pipeline. The CGO then introduced the application presented to Members and outlined the proposal, a transfer of the balance of an existing grant to United St. Saviour’s Charity

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

1.    United St. Saviour’s Charity

APPROVED £261,520 over four years (4 x £65,380) from the original grant of £326,900 to Community Southwark be transferred to United St Saviour Charity to contribute to the costs of hosting Southwark Giving for 4 years.

The Committee received a report of the CGO which advised Members of thirty expenditure items, totalling £2,651,060, which had been presented for approval under delegated authority to the CGO, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the CGO outlining a total of fourteen grant applications that were recommended for rejection. In response to a question from a Member, the CGO assured the Committee that officers were doing everything possible to enable eligible organisations to submit continuation requests, on account of the impact of COVID-19.

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

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the CGO advising Members of funds awarded through the London Community Response Fund (LCRF) under delegated authority for wave 3.

A Member raised the issue of the equity lens report on various waves of that fund, and commented that the prioritisation of user-led organisations led to a better outcome in distributing grants, which was an interesting learning point which could be applied to CBT’s broader grant-giving. The CGO advised that this was an example of the COVID-19 response threading through to CBT’s usual business.

In response to a question from a Member, the CGO confirmed that the Latin America Women’s Rights Service had received two grants, one in their own name for a specific project and one in partnership with another organisation, which was permitted by LCRF. The CGO added that very small organisations that might not normally be eligible could make applications via a host organisation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee received a report of the CGO presenting a learning case study about Bail for Immigration Detainees (BiD), an independent charity that exists to challenge immigration detention in the UK and current grant holder. The CGO gave the Committee an update on learning case studies, which were introduced in place of learning visits which could not currently be undertaken. This provided direct contact with funded organisations and a way for organisations to share their experiences. Members commented that the learning case study reports were helpful and a useful regular agenda item.

The CGO then introduced the learning case study in respect of BiD, who had been significantly affected by the move to online delivery as a result of COVID-19, but had risen to this challenge. Whilst the organisation had been able to support fewer people, it had achieved a higher success rate, and had been able to use the lockdown period to undertake important research.

RESOLVED – That the report be 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 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

16 - 17                                                             3

18 - 19                                                             -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2020.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2020 be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the CGO

The Committee received a report of the CGO.

There was one question.

There was no other business.