An apology was received from Councillor Mukit, Chair of Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee (GSSC), who was unwell.

RESOLVED

That the apology be noted.

Councillor Islam declared an interest in respect of agenda item 6.1 in that he had previously worked for East London Business Alliance (ELBA).

Mayor Biggs, Councillor Islam, Councillor Begum and Councillor Saunders declared an interest in respect of agenda item 6.2 in that 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 confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2017.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2017 be 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]

A submission relating to agenda item 6.2 ‘MSG Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report (Jan - Dec 2017)’ was received from Age UK and considered as part of the discussion of the item:

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

The Chair advised that he and Councillor Mukit (in his role of Chair of Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee) had been briefed on an application for emergency funding made by The Rooted Forum.  The application required additional information to be provided prior to determination and this had recently been supplied.  The Chair noting that an expedited decision was necessary and that officers recommended a sum of £6,130.01 be paid to this project, agreed that request be approved as an emergency decision for the sum recommended.

RESOLVED

That approval of emergency funding for The Rooted Forum to the value of £6,130.01 be confirmed.

Melanie Aust, Business, Enterprise, High Streets & Town Centres Manager presented the report which asked the Sub Committee to approve match funding of £25,000 for the Building Legacies Project, a scheme administered through ELBA and which would lever significant inward investment into the borough.

The Chair noted the written comments on behalf of Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee and invited Members and Commissioner Caller to comment on the proposal.  They indicated that they supported proposal to offer match funding.  Members were pleased to note the levels of inward investment that that the project would attract into the borough.

RESOLVED

That match funding support for the Building Legacies project in the sum of £25,000 be approved.

The Chair introduced the report noting that information on the projects reported and recommendations had been updated since the agenda was published. This information was provided in the addendum report tabled at the meeting.  Steve Hill, Head of Grants and Benefits informed the Sub Committee that the report focussed on projects where property issues remained outstanding and provided updates on these projects concerning measures to regularise property arrangements and their implications on the payment of MSG funding.

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

• That performance monitoring should distinguish between activity outputs and outcomes.
• That there should be greater outcome monitoring.
• Concern highlighted by GSSC around disproportionally high rents for small organisations, especially where these operate from premises other than those classified as community buildings.
• That, given the mediation and engagement offered by the Council in respect of Children Education Group (CEG) to regularise its property arrangements, that the terms offered to this project (set out at recommendation 1) are reasonable.
• That historic property arrangements relating to 82 Russia Lane are complex and that the premises offers a mixed administrative and community provision which does not fully fit the Council’s community buildings criteria.
• That a number of weeks will be required to complete a survey to determine rental value of 82 Russia Lane and draw up heads on terms. Following this Age UK and Black Womens Health and Family Support will require reasonable time to review their intention to enter into a lease.
• That a consistent rationale and transparent approach must be adopted in resolving property issues.  Any discounts must be consistently applied according to agreed criteria.

RESOLVED

Recommendation 1

i.          That grant funding to CEG continue to be suspended until confirmation that CEG has entered into the lease agreement.

ii.         That the Children Education Group (CEG) be required to have entered into an appropriate property agreement within seven (7) consecutive days of the issue of the Heads of Terms by the Council.  If CEG have entered into an agreement, MSG payments can be released subject to satisfactory performance.  In the event that CEG have not entered into an appropriate property agreement within seven (7) consecutive days of the issue of the Heads of Terms, CEG are to be removed from the current MSG programme and no further MSG payments be made.

Recommendation 2

i.          That Bethnal Green Weight Lifting Club be alowed until the next Grants Determination Sub Committee (GDSC) meeting (9 May 2017) to confirm their intention of entering into an appropriate agreement, at market rate.

ii.         That payment of grant be suspended after this date if no confirmation is provided.

iii.        That grant payment continue to this organisation monthly in arrears, subject to satisfactory performance until the date of the next GDSC meeting (9 May 2017).

Recommendation 3

That, in acknowledgement of the developments for 82 Russia Lane, whilst the survey is undertaken and revised Heads of Terms are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.2

The Vice-Chair invited John Coker, Strategic Housing Manager to present the report which asked the Sub Committee to authorise the Corporate Director for Place to continue grant funding to Ocean Regeneration Trust (ORT) for five years. This would be linked with the lease of the Harford Multicentre to the Trust, subject to delivery of the Ocean and Limehouse Community Review and would enable ORT to increase their occupation of the Mulitcentre.

The Vice-Chair noted the community services and income generation elements of the scheme.  He then invited Sub Committee Members’ and Commissioner Caller to give their comments. Commissioner Caller noted that no lease details were yet available and in these circumstances it was better to defer the grant decision until details of the lease were known.

DECISION

That the application to authorise the Corporate Director for Place to continue grant funding to Ocean Regeneration Trust (ORT) for five years be deferred pending information on the lease being made available.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be noted

GIFTS SYSTEM - ONLINE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION

The Head of Grants and Benefits informed the Sub Committee that GSSC had received a presentation on GIFTS, the Council’s online grants system through which it would administer all forms of grants in future and invited Members to receive a presentation of the same.  Members agreed that a presentation should be made at a future Cabinet meeting.

SECRETARY OF STATE’S DIRECTIONS

Councillor Saunders noted that Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had withdrawn the directions issued in 2014 and decision making would be returned to the Council from 31 March 2017.  On behalf of the Sub Committee and all those involved she thanked Commissioner Caller for all of his work in relation to the Council’s grant making functions while the directions had been in force and Commissioners’ input into the new framework for delivering grants in future.