Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Asma Begum.

An apology was noted from Councillor Md Mukit, Chair of Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee (GSSC).

RESOLVED

That the apologies submitted be noted.

Declarations of interest were made by all Elected Members of the Grants Determination Sub Committee (GDSC) in respect of agenda item 5.3 in that the Chair of Children Education Group Board (CEG) was known to them through their common Labour Party membership.

RESOLVED

That the declarations be noted.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2017.

TO FOLLOW.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the Grants Determination Sub Committee held on 17 January 2017 were approved as a correct record of proceedings.

Consideration of any written comments received from members of the public in relation to any of the reports on the agenda.

[Any submissions should be sent to the clerk listed on the agenda front page by 5pm the day before the meeting]

Public submissions in relation to agenda item 5.3 ‘MSG Project Performance Report – Period October – December 2016 were received from the following organisations and considered as part of the discussion of the item:

Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club

Black Women’s Health and Family Support (Russia Lane)

Age UK (Russia Lane)

Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Services (THCVS) regarding concerns raised by community organisations about new rental/lease arrangements issued by the Council.

To note for information individual decisions relating to the award of grants that have been taken by Commissioners since the last CDMM meeting.

GDSC were informed that the report had been duplicated from the previous meeting and circulated in error.

RESOLVED

The Sub Committee noted:

1. the report circulated in the agenda had been duplicated from the previous meeting.
2. No urgent decisions had been discharged by Mayor as individual decisions since the Sub Committee meeting on 17 January 2017.

The Festivals and Events Officer presented the quarterly report which provided details of grant applications and grants made that were:

·         approved by the Divisional Director Sports, Leisure, Culture & Youth under delegated powers;

·         for small community events that met the Event Fund criteria;

·         for the period July –September 2016.

GSSC written comments were read and noted.  GDSC were invited to comment; they indicated that they broadly supported the proposal and received answers to their questions relating to easy of making applications, racial data how applications were spread in terms of geography and diversity. 

RESOLVED

That the report of applications made and awards approved by the Divisional Director Sports, Leisure, Culture & Youth for applications for events taking place in July, August and September 2016 under the Event Fund Grant be noted.

The Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards presented the report which set out proposals for a tri-borough scheme with Hackney and Islington Councils and funded through the London Mayor’s Air Quality Fund:

• to promote sustainable travel options and low emissions technology;

·         that is aimed at businesses in the Borough;

·         and that these grants should be discharged via officer delegated decisions and reported to Grants Determination Sub Committee in keeping with procedures established for reporting grants made under delegated powers.

The written comments of GSSC were noted. The Chair then invited GDSC Members to comment and they indicated that they had no comments that they wished to make.

RESOLVED

1. That the implementation of a grant scheme, as outlined in Appendix 1, for promoting sustainable travel options/low emission technology for businesses in the borough be approved. 
2. That Divisional Director Public Realm be delegated authority to make grant awards in accordance with the scheme in Appendix 1, provided that the totality of the grants made does not exceed the available funding for grants up to March 2019, that is £67,100.
3. That it be agreed that the project reports back as part of the annual reporting cycle to Members and the Greater London Authority, the project sponsors.

The Head of Grants & Benefits Service introduced the performance monitoring report which provided an interim update for the period October – December 2016. Members were informed that since the next MSG reporting cycle would deliver a full monitoring report after the period of the SoS directions had ended, it was intended to provide interim data covering red and amber rated projects.

At the Chair’s invitation representatives of Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, Black Women’s Health and Family Support, Age UK and THCVS each addressed the Sub Committee concerning their written submissions. The written representation from Children Education Group was also considered.

Comments of Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee were noted.  Sub Committee Members’ and Commissioner Caller’s comments on the following broad issues were noted:

• Red performance ratings recorded in the period were as a consequence of premises issues;
• Premises issues were a matter identified by Commissioners in 2014;
• Moves toward regularising property arrangements had created significant financial issues for a number of community groups;
• The common issues raised by THCVS in its written representation which affected the projects delivering their schemes via Council properties could not be properly resolved in the meeting but required further discussion, analysis and review. These matters should therefore be progresses and a report made at a future meeting.

The Sub Committee considered and discussed each of the recommendations and

DECISION

Recommendation 1 – Children Education Group

That this project, on the basis that a prior meeting with the Mayor failed to take place, that the organisation had been offered alternative options in regard to rent and premises and on the basis of the written representation discussed by the Sub Committee, be offered a period of two weeks hence in order to make arrangements to meet with the Mayor to discuss their concerns and for mediation.  Failure to do so will result in the group being removed from the Grants programme.

Recommendation 2 – Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club

That this group, on the basis that it has engaged with the Council in respect of its property arrangements, its representation at the meeting and in view of the possibility of a partnership arrangement with Ability Bow organisation,

1. beoffered support to explore the viability of partnership with Ability Bow.
2. receive MSG funding one month in arrears while property issues are being resolved pending an update on the property agreement to be provided at the next meeting
3. be offered officer support to apply for Emergency Funding.

Recommendation 3 and 4 – Black Women’s Health and Family Support and Age UK

That, on the basis that both have confirmed their willingness to enter into a formal premises arrangement with the Council and that red performance ratings returned for both in the period are due to premises issues

1.  The quarterly MSG payment be paid to these organisations monthly in arrears (rather than quarterly in advance), subject to satisfactory MSG performance ratings excluding consideration of premises issues.

2.  That property issues are considered separately for the purposes of the MSG payments whilst  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.3

The Head of Grants & Benefits Service introduced the performance monitoring report which provided an interim update for the period October – December 2016. Members were informed that since the next MSG reporting cycle would deliver a full monitoring report after the period of the SoS directions had ended, it was intended to provide interim data covering red and amber rated projects.

At the Chair’s invitation representatives of Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, Black Women’s Health and Family Support, Age UK and THCVS each addressed the Sub Committee concerning their written submissions. The written representation from Children Education Group was also considered.

The written comments of GSSC were noted.  GDSC Members’ and Commissioner Caller’s comments on the following broad issues were noted:

• Red performance ratings recorded in the period were as a consequence of premises issues;
• Premises issues were a matter identified by Commissioners in 2014;
• Moves toward regularising property arrangements had created significant financial issues for a number of community groups;
• The common issues raised by THCVS in its written representation which affected the projects delivering their schemes via Council properties could not be properly resolved during the time permitted in the meeting

GDSC considered that the issues raised by THCVS required further discussion, analysis and review.  Members requested that a report addressing matters raised by THCVS in its letter and issues arising from the impacts of the policies governing property on community groups and projects be made at a future meeting.

The Sub Committee also considered and discussed each of the recommendations and

RESOLVED

Recommendation 1 – Children Education Group

That this project, on the basis that a prior meeting with the Mayor failed to take place, that the organisation had been offered alternative options in regard to rent and premises and on the basis of the written representation discussed by the Sub Committee, be offered a period of two weeks hence in order to make arrangements to meet with the Mayor to discuss their concerns and for mediation.  Failure to do so will result in the group being removed from the Grants programme.

Recommendation 2 – Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club

That this group, on the basis that it has engaged with the Council in respect of its property arrangements, its representation at the meeting and in view of the possibility of a partnership arrangement with Ability Bow organisation,

1. beoffered support to explore the viability of partnership with Ability Bow.
2. receive MSG funding one month in arrears while property issues are being resolved pending an update on the property agreement to be provided at the next meeting
3. be offered officer support to apply for Emergency Funding.

Recommendation 3 and 4 – Black Women’s Health and Family Support and Age UK

That, on the basis that both have confirmed their willingness to enter into a formal premises arrangement with the Council and that red performance ratings returned for both in the period are due to premises issues

1.  The quarterly MSG payment be paid to these organisations monthly in arrears  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.3

The Sub Committee considered

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

Nil items.