The Corporate Director, Resources and Head of Grants Service presented the report which provided monitoring information on voluntary sector projects that receive grant funding in accordance with the Council’s agreed performance management framework.  Supplementary information was provided in relation to premises’ issues relating to a number of organisations which operate from council buildings which were not classed as community buildings.  Members of the Sub Committee also considered the public representations made in regard to the report.

The Chair invited:

·      the Vice-Chair of GSSC to comment on the proposals on behalf of its members and she informed the Sub-Committee that Members of GSSC were pleased with the revised style of the report which provided better clarity. They supported the recommendations as set out in the report, except that relating to Children Education Group.  She noted the supplementary information provided and supported the additional recommendations made.

·      Members of the Grants Determination Sub Committee to comment on the report. They noted the supplementary information provided in regard to premises’ issues that had been raised by organisations and were broadly satisfied with the solutions proposed.  Members were minded to offer a further opportunity to resolve premises issues to Children Education Group and asked officers to engage with this organisation to this end.

Commissioner Caller clarified the principles which informed how Commissioners had previously resolved matters related to property.

The Chair noted the issues discussed and asked that a report on TRA be presented at a future meeting.

Action by: S. Hill, Head of Grants Service

RESOLVED

Recommendation 1:

Based on the written representation from Children Education Group, Members’ views and taking into account the policy in respect of premises under Commissioners directions, the Grants Determination Sub Committee decided no MSG funding be released to the Children Education Group but have requested officers engage with this organisation to help resolve current premises issues.

Recommendation 2

Based on the supplementary information provided by officers regarding Monnakar Monowar Welfare Foundation that the organisation had emailed the Grants Team on 9^th January 2017 advising that they wish to terminate project activities, Grants Determination Sub Committee agreed that funding be withdrawn and that the termination request be noted.

Recommendation 3

Based on the information provided in the main report, that the following projects:

·         DeafPLUS  Employment for Deaf and Disabled people in Tower Hamlets (EDITH)

·         Toynbee Hall, Wellbeing in Tower Hamlets

·         Somali Parents and Childrens Play, Somali Women Engagement Forum

beawarded two thirds of MSG funding due, in accordance with the agreed procedures.

Recommendation 4

Based on the information provided relating to projects that have improved their performance ratings to Green, the following organisations

·         Teviot British Bangladeshi Association – Opportunity

·         Wadajir Somali Community Centre – Wadajir Homework Club Two

·         Toynbee Hall – Well Being Centre

·         Age UK East London – Friend at Home

·         Bangladesh Youth Movement – “Live Healthy – Enjoy Life” Bangladeshi Women Health and Development

beawarded the appropriate funding commensurate with their Green performance rating.

Recommendation 5

Based on the information provided in the report and submission from The Shadwell Community Project (SCP) – the People Gap, that the significant variation request be approved for reduced outputs for Period 4 (July to September 2016) and Period 8 (July to September 2017), conditional on SCP having implemented the following actions prior to 11th January 2017and 17^th January 2017:

·         submission of a satisfactory finance monitoring returns for Periods 1 to 3

·         submission of outstanding monitoring information for Period 4

·         confirmation of a clear target date for an action plan to improve organisational management and project management. This plan should include appropriate SMART targets

·         better communication systems addressing delays in responding to e-mails and telephone calls

AND

On the basis of the later supplementary information provided by officers by way of update, that it be agreed that the following two referral-based outputs that were approved for deletion by Commissioners on 8 November 2016 be reinstated.

·         Number of residents referred to other organisations (18 outputs over three years); Referral to and from school (12 outputs over three years)

·         Delete another referral based output; Beneficiaries referred from and to Health organisations (14 outputs over three years). In considering recommendation 6 of the main report.

Recommendation 6

Based on the information provided in the report regarding Citizens Advice Bureau (East End CABx), Tower Hamlets Borough Wide Advice (Partnership), that the variation request be approved enabling the Citizens Advice Bureau to replace the Tower Hamlets Chinese Association with the Tower Hamlets Community of Refugees from Vietnam as delivery partners to provide advice to the Chinese community in Tower Hamlets.

Recommendation 7

Based on the supplementary information provided regarding Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, MSG funding not be paid on the basis that the grant conditions are not met.

Recommendation 8

Based on the representations from Black Women’s Health and Family Support (Russia Lane), and their commitment to work with the Council to formalise the premises arrangements, payment of the backdated MSG be agreed to be paid and the next advance quarterly payment made once a signed premises agreement is in place.

Recommendation 9

Based on the representations from Age UK (Russia Lane) and their commitment to work with the Council to formalise its premises arrangements, the backdated MSG be agreed to be paid to Age UK and the next advance quarterly payment made once a signed premises agreement is in place.

Recommendation 10

Based on the supplementary information provided by officers in regard to Pollyanna Training Theatre and in acknowledgement of Pollyanna’s commitment of working with the Council to formalise the premises arrangements, payment of the backdated MSG be approved, to be paid to Pollyanna with the next advance quarterly payment made once a signed premises agreement is in place.

Recommendation 11

Based on the supplementary information provided by officers in regard to Weavers Adventure Playground Association’s (WAPA) Play On Project and given the premises arrangement is expected to be at peppercorn rent levels for the Weavers Adventure Playground, it be agreed the MSG payments are made.

Recommendation 12

Based on the supplementary information provided by officers in regard to Tower Hamlets Community Transport (THCT) and that since THCT are not the direct recipient of MSG and the lease is held over, that it be agreed that MSG be released for payment.

Recommendation 13

Based on the supplementary information provided by officers and the representations from The Shadwell Community Project - Glamis Adventure Playground, and given the premises arrangement is expected to be at peppercorn rent levels for the Glamis Adventure Playground, it be agreed that the MSG payments be made.

Recommendation 14

Based on the supplementary information and evidence provided by officers regarding Green Candle Dance Company, the significant variation request attached at Appendix 1 (of the supplement) be approved.

Recommendation 15

That the officer briefing in respect of Somali Parents and Children’s Play – Somali Women engagement Forum requested by Commissioners, attached at appendix 3 of the supplement be noted.