Councillor M. Francisdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for a programme supporting residents into employment operated by Leaside Regeneration Company Ltd, and Councillor Francis was the Authority’s representative on the governing body of Leaside Regeneration Company Ltd.

Councillor C. Hawkinsdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for training programmes operated by Tower Hamlets College and Councillor Hawkins was a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Tower Hamlets College.

Councillor A. Ullah declared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for training programmes operated by Tower Hamlets College and Councillor Ullah was an independent member and Vice-Chair of the governing body of Tower Hamlets College.

Special circumstances and reasons for urgency Agreed.

Resolved:

1.         That, subject to (a) below, the allocation of Working Neighbourhood Funds (WNF) to the specific projects outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the report (CAB 042/089) and summarised in paragraph 5.6, limited to the period 1^st October 2008 to 31^st March 2009, be approved on the basis of offering a transitional arrangement for projects that are delivering outcomes in accordance with WNF criteria. Also that it be noted that the rationale for offering these projects for continued funding until March 09 is either:

·                    The Authority expects the area of work to continue, although it may be delivered in a different method or by a different delivery agency once the project is submitted through the Community Plan Delivery Group.

·                    The Authority needs to continue the funding whilst mainstream resources are considered.

(a)    That it be agreed that the allocation of WNF funding to the programme for improving attainment in English and Maths at GCSE, outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the report (CAB 042/089) and summarised in paragraph 5.6, be continued until the end of the 2008/2009 academic year and the allocation adjusted accordingly.

2.         That it be noted that further budget allocations and projects to make use of the remaining WNF funding, following the completion of the work on the detail of the Local Area Agreement delivery plans, will be brought forward for Cabinet consideration in January 2009.

Action by:

INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR – DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (P. EVANS)

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Councillor M. Francisdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for a programme supporting residents into employment operated by Leaside Regeneration Company Ltd, and Councillor Francis was the Authority’s representative on the governing body of Leaside Regeneration Company Ltd.

Councillor C. Hawkinsdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for training programmes operated by Tower Hamlets College and Councillor Hawkins was a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Tower Hamlets College.

Councillor A. Ullah declared a personal interest in Agenda item 10.1 “Working Neighbourhoods Fund/ Decisions on Budget Allocations and Projects”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to funding allocation for training programmes operated by Tower Hamlets College and Councillor Ullah was an independent member and Vice-Chair of the governing body of Tower Hamlets College.

The Chair informed members of the Cabinet that the special circumstances and reasons for urgency associated with the proposals were detailed on the front page of the report. The Cabinet subsequently agreed the special circumstances and reasons for urgency as set out on the front page of the report and also set out below:

·                    The report was unavailable for public inspection within the standard timescales set out in the Authority’s Constitution, due to the need to undertake more evaluation of the programmes offered for allocation of funding to ensure the services offered meet the indicators and targets agreed.

·                    The Tower Hamlets Partnership has prioritised worklessness and skills within its Local Area Agreement (LAA) targets. The delivery plans now being prepared which set out how the contributions of all the partners through their main programmes will contribute to the delivery of those targets.  Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) will be used to commission programmes of activity which address the local contextual issues identified in order to help us achieve the LAA targets.

·                    It was vital that detailed information was available on the programmes contribution in order to allow proper consideration of the report by Members.

Mr Evans, Interim Corporate Director Development and Renewal, at the request of the Chair in introducing the report:

·                    Summarised the salient points contained therein and in particular:-

o                    Informed members of the Cabinet that:

¨             They had previously agreed the criteria and framework for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, and requested the submission of specific proposals for consideration, in September, which were set out in the report.

¨             The strategic framework for WNF, focused on programmes designed to support and encourage people into effective employment, as the Tower Hamlets Partnership had prioritised worklessness and skills within the LAA targets; and the deployment of WNF funding would be based on a commissioning approach.

¨             It was proposed that a large proportion of WNF funding be used for programmes developed to explicitly support the delivery of LAA and Community Plan targets. To achieve this further time was needed to explore options and ensure a cross partnership approach.

¨             However leading up to the commissioning of new programmes Officers considered that a number of programmes merited transitional funding arrangements until the end of the 2008/09 financial year. These were focused strongly on the strategic objectives of the WNF Framework and either it was expected that the area of work would continue, although the method of delivery might change, or considered that funding should continue whilst issues of mainstreaming funding were managed out.

¨             Only a small number of specific programmes were being recommended for transitional funding and this would absorb approximately £2million [summarised in the table set out at paragraph 5.6 of the report] of the £25million WNF funding available over the next three years. Officers had only identified programmes where there were specific outcomes for the proposed spend, these were congruent with the strategic outcomes set for WNF, and there was a strong track record of delivery.

o                    Advised of an arithmetical error as follows: That the figure of £492,500 relating to the transitional funding to April 2009 for the programme stream Building Enterprise and Employment (page 11 of the report) should have been the figure detailed in respect of Specialist pre-employment programmes within the table contained in paragraph 5.6 of the report “Total funds recommended for commissioning until March 2009”. The figure currently detailed in the table of £342,500 was incorrect.

·                    Addressed the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 9^th September 2008, in relation to the report; as set out in the tabled sheet of questions and comments presented by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings.

Councillor Hawkins, Lead Member Children’s Services considered that it would be appropriate for the allocation of WNF funding to the programme for improving attainment in English and Maths at GCSE be continued until the end of the 2008/2009 academic year.  Councillor Hawkins proposed, for the consideration of members of the Cabinet, that the recommendation contained in paragraph 2.1 of the report be revised accordingly.

The Chair considered that Councillor Hawkins proposed amendment to the recommendations contained in the report was sensible in the context of deliberations earlier in the proceedings, during which the commitment of the Administration to investment in and engagement of the young people of Tower Hamlets was emphasised, and also the context of services seen to contribute to that outcome.

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing and Development, welcomed the proposals set out in the report as an appropriate use of WNF funding and emphasised that in the coming months, prior to the main round of commissioning of WNF funded programmes, Officers should only identify programmes which met the strategic objectives set out in the WNF framework.

The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report (taking account of the proposed amendment from Councillor Hawkins), and it was:-

Resolved:

1.         That, subject to (a) below, the allocation of Working Neighbourhood Funds (WNF) to the specific projects outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the report (CAB 042/089) and summarised in paragraph 5.6, limited to the period 1^st October 2008 to 31^st March 2009, be approved on the basis of offering a transitional arrangement for projects that are delivering outcomes in accordance with WNF criteria. Also that it be noted that the rationale for offering these projects for continued funding until March 09 is either:

·                    The Authority expects the area of work to continue, although it may be delivered in a different method or by a different delivery agency once the project is submitted through the Community Plan Delivery Group.

·                    The Authority needs to continue the funding whilst mainstream resources are considered.

(a)    That it be agreed that the allocation of WNF funding to the programme for improving attainment in English and Maths at GCSE, outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the report (CAB 042/089) and summarised in paragraph 5.6, be continued until the end of the 2008/2009 academic year and the allocation adjusted accordingly.

2.         That it be noted that further budget allocations and projects to make use of the remaining WNF funding, following the completion of the work on the detail of the Local Area Agreement delivery plans, will be brought forward for Cabinet consideration in January 2009.