Issue - meetings

The purpose of the report is to consider the applications to the Waverley Community Grant Scheme for revenue funding in 2016/17, taking into account the observations made by the Community Overview and Scrutiny Grants Sub-Committee and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

The report proposes to continue to protect the Council’s overall level of discretionary spending on grants at £725,110 to the voluntary sector despite significant reductions in Waverley’s government funding. 

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

1.         confirms the overall funding to the voluntary sector at £725,110 for 2016/17;

2.         considers the applications for Waverley Community Partnership funding in 2016/17, having regard to the comments of the Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Grants Sub-Committee; and

3.         recommends grant levels for each organisation, as detailed in Annexe 1 to the report, to the Council for approval.

The Executive has agreed to RECOMMEND to the COUNCIL that

1.         the overall funding to the voluntary sector be confirmed at £725,110 for 2016/17; and

2.         having considered the applications for Waverley Community Partnership funding in 2016/17 and the comments of the Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Grants Sub-Committee, recommends grant levels for each organisation, as detailed in Annexe 1 to the report.

[This item is recommended to the Council for decision and is not subject to the call-in procedure]

[Reason: to consider applications for revenue funding to the voluntary sector in 2016/17]

125.1  The Waverley Community Grant Scheme awards funding towards the running costs of organisations that provide high priority services for the benefit of Waverley residents, in partnership with the Council.  The services that the partner organisations deliver across all corporate objectives could fall into any of the 5 priority areas.  In addition the Council made a specific commitment in the Corporate Plan to work with voluntary groups to meet the needs of residents.  Waverley’s contribution to the Waverley Voluntary Partnership also helps support organisations to deliver wellbeing activities.  The financial implications are explained in detail below.

125.2  The Council’s total grants allocated to Community organisations in 2016/17 are £725,110 showing the Council’s continued commitment to its partnerships with voluntary organisations.  This overall budget has been maintained over the past four years, despite the Council’s significant reductions in its government grant.  As a proportion of the Council’s overall net budget spend, the level of financial support has increased.  A summary of the grant and Service Level Agreement funding proposed in 2016/17:

125.3  In addition to the above funding, the Council supports these and additional organisations in many other ways including assistance with accessing other sources of funding, one-off capital investment, discretionary rate relief and rent relief.

125.4  At its meeting on 6 October 2015, the Executive agreed to open the 2016/17 funding round of the Waverley Community Grant Scheme (previously called the Waverley Community Partnership) to coincide with the budget setting process.  In the current year 2015/16, the Council maintained its overall financial package for the voluntary sector and the total funding for the Waverley Community Grants Scheme was £158,650.

125.5  The Council will receive a further 52% reduction in its grant from the Government for 2016/17 and will need to identify cost savings to balance its budget.   However, Members recognise the vital services delivered in partnership with the voluntary sector and are mindful of the potential impact that any cut would have on our voluntary organisations.  Members are also keen to ensure services that support Waverley’s growing older population and more vulnerable residents are prioritised in the current economic climate. It is currently proposed in the draft budget 2016/17 that the overall funding budget for voluntary organisations be maintained at the same level as the current year.  Within this, the budgets for the Waverley Community Grant Scheme, Voluntary Grants Partnership and Service Level Agreements will vary.    

125.6  The Council has not decreased its overall funding to the voluntary sector for five years and this clearly demonstrates Waverley’s continued commitment to the voluntary sector despite the Council having to make its own budget reductions.

125.7  Despite further significant reductions in Government funding, it is proposed that the total amount of money that Waverley contributes to the Waverley Voluntary Partnership (WVP) commissioning pilot scheme should remain at the same level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125