Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To agree the Tower Hamlets Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 2020-2024, including the actions and outcomes under each priority.

Action by:

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (W. TUCKLEY)

(Divisional Director, Strategy, Policy and Performance (S. Godman)

(Senior Strategy and Policy Manager (E. Fieran-Reed)

(Strategy and Policy Manager (M. Waterman)

Councillor Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector, introduced the report on the new Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy. She highlighted how important the relationship with voluntary and community sector organisations was to the Council.

The impact of the pandemic had particularly demonstrated this as we had seen organisations reimagining their services to meet the changing demands over the year supporting some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded residents in the borough.

A particular goal for the new strategy was in how to leverage new resources into the sector and how to improve links to all local partners and not just the Council. She welcomed the report and commended the Strategy to Cabinet.

Peter Okali, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service welcomed the Strategy and highlighted it had been developed with the full involvement of the sector.

The Cabinet discussed the report noting a number of points including the need to ensure that volunteers were used to support, rather than replace, permanent staff and also on the dangers of over-reliance on private funding sources.

The Mayor welcomed the report and stated his pride that the borough had such a large and effective voluntary and community sector. Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted and the Mayor moved the recommendation as set out. This was agreed without dissent and it was:

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the Tower Hamlets Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 2020-2024, including the actions and outcomes under each priority.