Agenda item

Report of the BHE & Charities Finance Director

The Committee considered a report of the BHE & Charities Finance Director presenting for review and recommendation of the Grants Committee of the Bridge House Estates (BHE) Board, the BHE Funding budget for 2023/24. The BHE & Charities Finance Director introduced the report and advised that the budget would be referred to the BHE Board if endorsed by the Committee. The Committee was advised that inflation had been factored into the budget.

In response to a question from a Member, the Managing Director of BHE advised that application turnaround times were generally faster for onward grant-making programmes, and that officers were reviewing CBT processes with a view to bringing turnaround times down generally. A Member commented that the application portal seemed dated and suggested that officers review the process to see how it might be consolidated or streamlined. The Managing Director of BHE responded that the charity was currently reviewing the grant management system used for this purpose.

The Managing Director of BHE noted that there was a balance required, factoring in staffing levels and appropriate due diligence, but that the aim was for a user-friendly and flexible process for applicants, with less onerous ways of generating data, adding that work to build on the single point of entry model for applications would be continued through the Propel programme. The Committee was further advised that officers were liaising with other funders on due diligence processes, particularly in respect of finance.

The Chair asked that an update on work in respect of application turnaround times be brought back to Committee, before drawing Members’ attention to the recommendations, which were agreed.

RESOLVED - That the Grants Committee of the Bridge House Estates Board, in the discharge of functions for the City Corporation as Trustee of Bridge House Estates (charity no. 1035628) and solely in the charity’s best interests:

i)              Review and recommend the proposed BHE Funding budget for 2023/24 for inclusion in the charity’s overall Budget to be presented to the BHE Board in February 2023; and

ii)             Agree that minor amendments for the 2023/24 grants budget arising during the budget setting process be delegated to the BHE & Charities Finance Director.