The Service Manager, Community Cohesion, Engagement & Commissioning and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy Manager presented the report which asked the Sub-Committee to extend the current Main Stream Grants programme on a case by case basis for projects that were performing satisfactorily while a new programme was developed through a process of co-production.  Members were informed that Tower Hamlets CVS supported the proposed approach as this gave time for engagement with groups and projects

At the Chair’s invitation the comments of GSSC were received stating that the proposals were supported.  GSSC also wished to receive further information about outputs as the programme development progressed.

Members of the Sub-Committee also endorsed the proposals put forward noting that bidding for the new programme would begin in the summer of 2018 and the programme launched on 1^st April 2019.

DECISION

1.    That the current three year MSG be extended by seven months to 31 March 2019 for those projects which receive grants and which are also performing satisfactorily, and

2.    That the proposed arrangements to develop a new corporate grants policy through a process of co-production be noted.

The Service Manager, Community Cohesion, Engagement & Commissioning and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy Manager presented the report which asked the Sub-Committee to extend the current Main Stream Grants programme on a case by case basis for projects that were performing satisfactorily while a new programme was developed through a process of co-production. 

Members noted that a representative from Tower Hamlets CVS was in attendance and she indicated that it supported the proposed approach to the preparations for the successor Main Stream Funding programme as this gave time for engagement with groups and projects

At the Chair’s invitation the comments of GSSC were received stating that the proposals were supported.  GSSC, nearer the time, also wished to receive further information about outputs as the programme development progressed.

Members of the Sub-Committee also considered the proposals and endorsed them noting that bidding for the new programme would begin in the summer of 2018 and the programme launched on 1^st April 2019.

RESOLVED

1.    That the current three year MSG be extended by seven months to 31 March 2019 for those projects which receive grants and which are also performing satisfactorily, and

2.    That the proposed arrangements to develop a new corporate grants policy through a process of co-production be noted.

Emily Fieran-Reed, Service Manager, Community Cohesion, Engagement and Commissioning presented her report regarding the extension to the Mainstream Grants and Corporate Grants fund.

She explained she was seeking the Sub-Committee’s agreement to extend the Council’s Mainstream Grants (MSG) by seven months to 31^st March 2019 for those projects which are performing satisfactorily. This will allow sufficient time for the successor funding programme to be developed through a process of co-production with stakeholders and will bring the programme into line with the financial year.

She referred Members to the chart on page 31 which showed how the alignment of the MSG fund would dovetail with Commissioning and the Grant’s Policy.

Members of the Sub-Committee asked the following questions:

·         You are proposing the MSG funding be extended for seven months for those who are performing well. What will happen to those organisations that are under-performing?

·         Any decision regarding those who are under-performing will be referred to the Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee and the Grant’s Determination Sub-Committee.

·         What will the process involve with respect to the development of the Grants policy – will that be examined by the parent Overview and Scrutiny Committee or this sub-committee?

·         The move to commissioning will also have an impact on the work of the sub-committee long term and this will need to be considered.

The Sub-Committee AGREED the recommendations contained within the report that:

1.    The current three year MSG is extended by seven months to 31^st March 2019 for those projects which receive grants and which are also performing satisfactorily, and

2.    Note the proposed arrangements to develop a new corporate grants policy through a process of co-production.