Agenda item

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.