Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: May 22, 2025

Purpose: Approval of the Citizen's Advice South West Surrey Grant 2025-26 of £250,000.00

Content: Decision: Award a grant of £250,000 to CASWS for a period of 12 months to 31 March 2026 whilst a grant review is undertaken. Reason(s): 1.            CASWS provides invaluable advice to residents of Guildford and acts as a strategic partner of Guildford Borough Council helping support their most vulnerable residents. 2.            The provisional local government finance settlement for 2025/26 was extremely poor for most District and Borough Councils, with most, including Guildford Borough Council, receiving no increase in their funding. This means that the Council’s funding for 2025-26 will remain at the same level as 2024-25, even after an increase in Council Tax revenues.  The impact of the settlement is that there is no new funding available to meet the cost of pay awards, demand and inflationary pressures. 3.            To ensure that the Council can continue to deliver its strategic objectives within its budget, over 2025/26 all Council grants will be reviewed, including a review of the grant with CASWS.  4.            In order to not disrupt the current community, offer funded by the Council, and enable CASWS to prepare for a grant review in 2026/27, it is recommended the current grant of £250,000 per year will be extended for one further year until 31 March 2026 so that a further grant of £250,000 is provided to CASWS. 5.            To ensure value for money, the grant agreement for 2025/26 will be strengthened so that: ·        The purpose of the grant is explicitly for the benefit of Guildford residents, particularly those from less advantaged communities.  ·        There is clawback provision for any underspend.  ·        The Council can at its sole discretion change the activities supported by the grant, the payment schedule, or removing activities from the list of activities that the grant supports.   ·        The Council can require the prompt repayment of any overpayment, ·        CASWS is the only entity that can use the grant.  We propose to include in the grant agreement requirements that the CASWS demonstrates how the grant is being used by the CASWS to work as a strategic partner, demonstrating how the grant will enable the CASWS to support residents of Guildford and help the Council meet its corporate objectives, particularly the following areas : ·        Help improve services to residents across Guildford Borough, which may include working with wider system partners, collaborating with teams across the Council and community engagement events to enable people to receive information and advice. ·        Support the development of the local voluntary, community and faith sector. ·        Working with the Council, in providing support for homelessness prevention and regulation of private landlords. ·         Help households with rent arrears. ·        Support our strategic outcomes for Guildford, in particular a more inclusive borough and a more prosperous borough.  Other options considered and rejected by the Executive: Option 1: Not continue funding Option 2: Reduce funding Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted: None.