To agree to the process of inviting applicants for the 2017/18 Ageing Well Small Grants fund which aims to provide financial support to groups providing social activities and peer support to older people in the borough. 

A decision is required to ensure that all award payments are able to be made before the end of the 2017/18 Financial Year from which the budget has been allocated.

The Acting Divisional Director, Integrated Commissioning and Service Manager, Strategic Commissioning presented the report.  This asked the Sub-Committee to:

·         approve the reassignment of the previous ‘Small Grants for Pensioner’s Groups’ fund, (following a review), as the Ageing Well Small Grants fund (following the approval of the Ageing Well Strategy by Cabinet in May 2017)

·         note that the value of the fund in 2017/18 be £25,000 less £3,435 recommended to be retained for outstanding awards from previous years,

·         approve the process for inviting applications and monitoring

·         approve an increase of grant payable from a maximum of £500 to a maximum of £600 and

·         to delegate the responsibility for approving future awards from this fund to the Divisional Director Integrated Commissioning.

At the Chair’s invitation the comments of GSSC were received stating that the proposals were supported however there were concerns around whether the methods of publicity proposed for the new grant would inadvertently exclude some sectors of the community.  Members of the Sub-Committee:

·         echoed the concerns of GSSC and asked officers to ensure that methods of communication were broad, diverse and effective in reaching the intended recipients.

·         were concerned that recipients of this grant should reflect the demographics of the community

Following discussion, the Sub Committee agreed the following revised recommendations:

DECISION

1.    That the reassignment of the previous ‘Small Grants for Pensioner’s Groups’ fund as the Ageing Well Small Grants fund be approved.

2.    That it be noted that the value of the fund in 2017/18 is £25,000 less £3,435 recommended to be retained for outstanding awards under previous years’ Small Grants for Pensioners scheme.

3.    That it be approved that awards of eleven outstanding grants, totalling £3,435, from the 2015/16 and 2016/17 under Small Grants scheme be made from the newly formed fund.

4.    That the process for inviting applications for the Ageing Well Small Grants fund 2017/18 be approved.

5.    That the process for awarding the grant funding and subsequent monitoring arrangements be approved.

6.    That responsibility for approving future awards from this fund be delegated to the Divisional Director Integrated Commissioning.

7.    That an increase of grant payable from a maximum of £500 to a maximum of £600 be approved.