To elect a Chair for the Sub -  Committee for 2022/23.

It was proposed by Councillor Kabir Ahmed  and was RESOLVED:

1.       That Mayor Lutfur Rahman be appointed Chair of the Grants Determination Sub - Committee for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

Councillor Sabina Khan , Scrutiny Lead, Resources

Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

None declared

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting held on 9^th March 2022

RESOLVED:

1.          The minutes of the meeting of the Sub – Committee held on 9^th March 2022 be approved as a correct record of the 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]

There were none.

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

There were none.

The Grants Sub – Committee considered the report.

The Mayor requested that for next meeting a report is presented, setting out all identified grants and the relevant levels of delegations.

RESOLVED:

1.       To note the Grants Determination Sub – Committee’s Terms of Reference, Quorum, Membership and Dates of meetings for the Municipal Year 2022/23 as set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to this report.

2.       To agree the following proposed changes to the Terms of Reference:

•       That the Mayor will Chair the Grants Determination Sub - Committee

•       To amend Point 3 to clarify the delegation of functions arrangements in line with point 1

Anna Zucchelli (Heritage at Risk Projects Officer, Place) presented the report. The report sought permission to offer a Historic Buildings Grant of up to £17,000 to Bow Church from the programme.

This was for the repair of How Memorial Gateway to match fund a grant of £10,000 from the Heritage of London Trust. The external works met the grants criteria.

The Gateway was on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register. The gateway forms the entrance to St. Leonard’s Priory open space The land had been neglected for many years, but was now being cared for. There were also plans to increase visitor numbers to the site. The grant will enable the repair and future sustainability of the gateway, as well as its removal from the register.  

The Committee noted the formal offer was conditional  on the receipt of quotes from three contractors. In addition the payment would only be released once the work has been completed and inspected. If approved by the Sub -committee a letter of comfort would be sent to the applicant advising of the Council’s intention to issue the grant.

Whilst agreeing with the proposal in principle, it was agreed that a decision on this application be deferred pending receipt of the three satisfactory quotes. The application would then be brough back to the Sub – Committee  for a decision.

Catherine Boyd, (Interim Head of Arts, Parks and EventsArts) presented the report. The report asked the Sub – Committee to note a decision taken by the Chief Executive (before the May 2022 election), in compliance with the Constitution.

The particular decision was to fund the Trust and to maintain their solvency due to lost commercial income and increased costs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

RESOLVED:

1.             Note the decision taken by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution

Afazul Hoque presented the update report, including an overview of the LCF, and the Sub – Committee’s decision to extend the programme.

The performance report covers the period October 2021 to March 2022. It reports on the five themes of the LCF and the Infrastructure & Capacity Building funding. The Project Summary (Appendix 2) gives an update by each project.

It was noted that:

·       The Voluntary and Community Sector (VSC) organisations had worked hard to support residents during the pandemic – and in may cases they had to adapt  their approach to delivering projects and had demonstrated a lot of resilience.

·       The LCF has a number of themes. Of the 50 projects,  47 have been classified as green. Three had been classified red. Two of these related to  tenancy issues. It was proposed that payment to these organisations be suspended until these issues had been solved. Progress has been made with addressing these issues. A further project been classified as red as the project had been suspended- the St Hilda’s East Community Centre’s Surjamuki Disabled Youth Project.

·       There had been an increase in demand for support from LCF providers with the increase in the costs of living and impact of Covid 19. The projects themselves had encountered a number of challenges. The Council were working with organisations to continue to make sure they deliver good services

·       Two projects had been classified as red, due to the lack of an agreed lease. It was proposed that payment to these organisations be suspended until this been solved. Progress has been made with addressing these issues. Most projects were green rated.

·       The report also provided an update on the Infrastructure and Capacity Building programme, and the nature of this work to support VSC projects. It also provided details of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) trustee training scheme including the proposed outcomes.

RESOLVED:

1.       Note the performance of the Local Community Fund (LCF) programme as set out in 3.2 to 3.7 and Appendix 2 for October 2021 – March 2022

2.       Note the suspension of LCF project payment to Age UK East London’s Caxton Hall and Friend at Home projects due to premises issues as set out in paragraph 3.2 (e) and (f)

1.             Note the permanent suspension of St Hilda’s East Community Centre’s Surjamuki Disabled Youth Project as set out in paragraph 3.2 (e) and (g)

4.       Note the updates on the funded organisations in Council premises and the Infrastructure & Capacity Building funding as set out in 3.8 to 3.9.

5.       Note the programme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) trustee training and matching with local VCS organisations, that is being delivered via the Infrastructure and Capacity Building programme, as set out in 3.9 (d).

Afazul Hoque  presented the report. This report provides an update on funding awarded to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED:

1.             Note the update on funding awarded to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations under delegated authority since their last meeting