Zena Cooke, Corporate Director for Resources introduced the report which set out the approach that the Council wished to undertake following the completion of the Secretary of State's directions relating to grant making.  The arrangements include cross-party scrutiny and feedback on grants proposals which would be reported to the Mayor in the Cabinet at meetings held in public.

The Chair invited Councillor John Pierce, Co-opted Members and Commissioners to comment on the proposal and the following responses were given:

Councillor John Pierce indicated that GSSC supported the proposed arrangements. 

Mayor Biggs noted that the nature of grants was different to other executive decisions made in Cabinet and may require a different form of meeting to discharge them.  He suggested, for transparency, that there be a meeting dedicated to making grants.

Councillor Saunders indicated that she supported Mayor Biggs’ proposal since the Council’s new relationship with the third sector would benefit from a new structure to discharge the decisions.

Commissioner Max Caller suggested that publication timescales are taken into consideration (in planning and delivery of the structures) to ensure that there was sufficient time for scrutiny and proper feedback to the decision-makers.  Sufficient time needed to be allowed for a proper process and to enable views to be given; therefore it was essential that all reports should be provided in a timely manner.  Zena Cooke advised that report deadlines would be accommodated accordingly to enable GSSC to receive and consider reports one week prior to the grants decision making meetings.

The Chair welcomed the discussion paper and noted that this concerned arrangements once Commissioners responsibilities had been fulfilled. However he noted that a transitional period would be required to achieve the outcome and requested a paper outlining proposals for this intervening period.

RESOLVED

1.       That the proposed future grants decision-making arrangements, as discussed, be approved

2.       That a further report setting out proposals for the transitional period be brought to a future meeting