Purpose

To consider the recommendations of the report, in relation to Community Services Funding.

Decision

It was RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

a)       Revoked the decision made on 12 March 2026 to enter into a Service Level Agreement with Community First East Hampshire for 2026/27

b)       Approved the reallocation of the £60,000 budget provision to support an alternative delivery model to progress the Councils work on ABCD. 

c)       Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Development and Engagement and the Section 151 Officer, to determine and implement the most appropriate use of the funding to support community capacity building and community resilience.

Reasons for the Decision

To seek the Cabinet approval to revise the funding arrangements approved for Community First East Hampshire and reallocate the funding to support the Council's Asset Based Community Development programme.

Alternative Options Considered

Option A - Continue funding Community First

This option would maintain continuity of the existing arrangement and retain

access to specialist VCSE support services. However, officers do not consider

that continuation of the current funding arrangement provides the strongest

alignment with the Council's strategic priorities or the best use of the available

funding.

Option B - Withdraw funding with no replacement

This option would reduce expenditure but would remove support currently available to communities and voluntary organisations. Officers do not consider this option consistent with the Council's commitment to supporting thriving communities.

Option C - Reallocate funding to community capacity building activity (Preferred Option)

This option would enable the Council to invest directly in activity that supports its ABCD programme and wider transformation agenda. Funding could be used flexibly to support community asset mapping, community leadership, community builder approaches and other community capacity building activity. Where specialist support is required, the Council could commission external organisations, including Community First, to provide specific pieces of work.

Officers considered this option provided the greatest alignment with the Council's strategic priorities and would offer the best opportunity to test new approaches to supporting communities ahead of Local Government

Reorganisation.