The Mayor noted the amendment tabled at the meeting.

DECISION

1.            To note the aim and objectives of the Strategy.

2.            To note the detail of the Strategy including the process of developing annual action plans in order to deliver and achieve agreed vision and objectives.

3.            To agree the Strategy on behalf of the Council, with the additional words tabled at the meeting, noting that it has been developed and is to be delivered as a Partnership initiative.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL

(Acting Service Head Resources (D. Clark)

Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report.He drew the Mayor’s attention to the following amendment to the Strategy at Appendix 1.

Appendix 1 - VCS Strategy: Objectives

Regarding the issue of supporting VCS Organisations to meet a commissioning model approach - the following are examples to be inserted at the end of the paragraph at the top of page 13 (page 63 of agenda pack):

·         Providing a ‘procurement & contract management readiness toolkit’ to enable Third Sector Organisations to prepare themselves for responding to commissioning opportunities

·         Ensuring that Contract/Agreement terms and conditions are written in such a way that they are able to be fully understood by organisations without detailed legal understanding/representation

·         Minimising the complexity of commissioned services/activities in terms of their packaging

·         Offering a brokerage service to bring small interested organisations into bid partnerships/consortia

The Mayor welcomed the report and the vital contribution the voluntary and community sector played in providing services to the Borough’s residents. The Mayor noted the amendment and agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.            To note the aim and objectives of the Strategy.

2.            To note the detail of the Strategy including the process of developing annual action plans in order to deliver and achieve agreed vision and objectives.

3.            To agree the Strategy on behalf of the Council, with the additional words tabled at the meeting, noting that it has been developed and is to be delivered as a Partnership initiative.