Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Grants Officer concerning compliance and unannounced monitoring visits. The report recommended updating the selection and target numbers for both compliance and unannounced visits. This was based on four years of experience following the introduction of these visits. It was also recommended that the criteria for compliance visits be amended, as the current criteria had been found to be problematic in practice. 

It was proposed to revise the indicators to a mixture of leading and lagging indicators, any of which would trigger a compliance visit. This made it easier for officers to respond to something that caused concern. The grant officer could also request a visit if they were concerned about monitoring reports and/or communications with the charity. The proposals were likely to result in fewer visits, but visits would be better value. The reduction in the number of visits would be mitigated by strengthening references to these visits in CBT communications. The proposals were more proportionate and would also create a cost saving.

Members suggested that proportionality be considered as part of the criteria and that the value of a grant should be taken into account.

RESOLVED – That the City Bridge Trust Committee:

1. Agree to reduce the target number of unannounced visits from 25 to 15 whilst strengthening references to these visits in City Bridge Trust communications; and

2. Agree to amend the criteria for selecting compliance reviews based on the bulleted list in paragraph 13 of the report, adding that proportionality should also be considered.