Issue - meetings
Local Community Fund (LCF) Performance Report - October 2020 – March 2021
Meeting: 23/06/2021 - Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee (Item 7)
7 Local Community Fund (LCF) Performance Report - October 2020 – March 2021 PDF 399 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 Project Summary, item 7 PDF 598 KB
- Webcast for Local Community Fund (LCF) Performance Report - October 2020 – March 2021
Minutes:
Robert Mee provided an overview of this report. The performance report covers the period October 2021 to March 2021. It reported on the five themes of the Local Community Fund and the Infrastructure & Capacity Building funding. The Project Summary (Appendix 1) gives an update by project.
The following issues were noted:
· Whilst this had been a difficult period due to Covid, most of the projects had successful adjusted to the difficult circumstances, through adapting the way projects were delivered.
· However, in view of the circumstances, a new ‘Covid/Amber’ performance rating had been introduced - to the RAG rating – to identify performance issues, where the Covid restrictions has had a particularly significant impact.
· For example, this rating had been given to projects involving schools or intergenerational projects which had been significantly impacted
· Other performance issues (for example relating more to other issues), continued to be rated as Amber. Details of these were set out in the report.
· Officers continued to work with these Amber rated projects to address the issues. They were confident that these issues should be resolved by the next update and they would gain a green rating.
The Committee asked a number of questions and the following points were noted:
· Members sought clarity on the need for the new Covid/Amber rating - given the previously agreed changes to the programme. The revised arrangements encouraged projects to take a more flexible and imaginative approach.
· Officers further explained the need for the new Covid/Amber rating. It was noted that these projects have worked hard to adapt their services and to take a more flexible approach, through for example, providing remote learning and online activities. Despite their best efforts, the impact of the restrictions has simply been out of their control. Only a small number of projects had been awarded this new rating.
· Officers had been working with these groups to help them make the adjustments and adapt their practices as best as they could to meet targets. It was noted that many of these projects sought to deliver projects that would help the recovery.
· It was also discussed that the format of Appendix 1 should be reviewed to make the RAG rating clearer.
· Members also discussed the need to plan for the next round of funding.
The Committee welcomed the report and thanked Officers and the voluntary sector for their work.
Recommendations (to be endorsed by the Mayor as an Individual Mayor Decision)
1. Note the performance of the Local Community Fund programme as set out in 3.2 to 3.7 and Appendix 1 for Oct 20 – Mar 21
2. Note the updates on the funded organisations in Council premises and the Infrastructure & Capacity Building funding as set out in 3.8 to 3.9.