Note – the Mayor highlighted that he was looking to receive a further report with more detailed information at an upcoming Cabinet meeting.

DECISION

1.    To agree the programme rationale and approach for a Community Commissioning programme, and

2.    To instruct officers to develop detailed proposals for a Community Commissioning programme, to be launched in time for a proposed programme delivery start date of April 2019.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (Z. COOKE)

(Service Manager, Community Cohesion, Engagement and Commissioning (E. Fieran-Reed)

(Senior Strategy, Policy and Performance Officer (E. Langley)

Note – Agenda Items 5.1 and 5.2 were taken together and the combined minute is set out below. Please see item 5.2 for the decision for that specific report.

The Mayor introduced the report. He highlighted that discussions with the Voluntary and Community sectors had been ongoing for quite a long time and that the Council was looking to ensure support for their proposed new direction.

During discussion officers emphasised that a lot of work had gone in to the report to date but that further development was still to take place and would be reported back to Cabinet at the appropriate time. This would include further engagement work within the voluntary and community sectors.

Farida Yesmin, representing the Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network, addressed Cabinet. She emphasised that they were keen to work with the Commissioning model but had concerns to make sure that the process was not rushed and that any commissioning undertaken did not simply result in large national organisations taking over work from local providers.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions to the discussion. He emphasised that he was very keen to preserve a strong local voluntary sector. He considered that the reports set out a good framework for Commissioning and Grants policy but agreed that more details were needed on how this would work. He also emphasised that officers would continue to work with the sector on how this developed. He agreed the recommendations as set out but emphasised that he would be looking for more details to be set out in further reports to Cabinet to follow within a few months.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the programme rationale and approach for a Community Commissioning programme, and

2.    To instruct officers to develop detailed proposals for a Community Commissioning programme, to be launched in time for a proposed programme delivery start date of April 2019.