Purpose

Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the report in
relation to the funding agreements for the provision of advice
services from Citizens Advice East Hampshire, Voluntary Sector
advice, support from Community First and the provision of community
transport services from Hampshire County Council.

Decision

RESOLVED that
 

a.    
the core services grants as set out in the table*
at paragraph 8.1 be approved;

 

b.   
authority be delegated to the Executive Director
of Community to agree the contractual arrangements, detailed
outcomes, application processes and monitoring arrangements, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Development and
Engagement; and
 

c.    
authority be delegated to the Executive Director
of Community to agree the distribution of grants, in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Community Development and Engagement,
and release the grant payments (in instalments where appropriate)
based on performance data provided in quarterly
reporting.
 
*typographical error to be amended as follows:
 

Hampshire County Council – Wheels to
Work programme

£4,247.39
6 5 x monthly payments

April 1st 2025
– 31st August 2025

Deed of Agreement with biannual
monitoring reports

 
Reasons for the decision
 
To provide grants to several different
organisations to provide services in the district through Service
Level Agreements or other legal agreements. These services include
the provision of advice and support from Citizens Advice, support
for the voluntary and community sector organisations from Community
First, Community Transport provision through Hampshire County
Council and a Wheels to Work service through Hampshire County
Council. The award of these grants provides vital services across
the district. This is a matter for Cabinet consideration as the
funded services effect more than one ward in the district.
 
Alternative Options considered
 
a.       Do nothing – There
are no statutory requirements to provide funding to facilitate
these services in the district. However, it is anticipated that
this option would result in additional pressures on other services
the council offers and that our most vulnerable residents would be
disproportionally affected by not providing these services.
b.       Council provide
services directly - The Council could provide these services
directly although it does not currently have sufficient staff
resource to do this. This option is not considered to offer an
efficient service to our residents. The grant funding arrangements
enable the Council to offer a comprehensive programme of support
and advice for residents and voluntary sector organisation through
partner organisations. These organisations can attract external
funding to supplement council funding, and use volunteers to enable
a comprehensive service, providing the most efficient method of
operating these functions.
c.       Reduce the current
level of grant funding - Any decrease to the grant funding may have
implications on the level of future service provision. Citizens
Advice and Community First do apply for and receive income for
projects; however, these are usually short term with no certainty
on future funding opportunities or income and cannot be relied on
to fund core services. Officers continue to work closely with all
partner organisations to secure the current level of service for
current funding arrangements and ensure an efficient service and
value for money.
d.       Preferred option
– As set out in this paper the provision of Core Services
grants enables a range of support and advice services as well as
the provision of community transport services in the most efficient
manner.
 
The call-in deadline is 4.00 pm on
Wednesday 19 March 2025.