Decision details

7.1.1

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking recommending awards from the Voluntary Sector Grants Fund for the period 1^st July 2012 to 31^st March 2013 and for a proposal to set up a new         Small Grants Fund

7.1.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

having had due regard to the provisions of Sections 149 and 158 of the Equality Act 2010 and Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and to the issues raised by those provisions, approves the grant award recommendations listed in Appendix 1; 

(b)

approves the creation of a new Small Grants Fund of £50,000 to be managed as part of the Council grant aid budget in line with the Council’s agreed Revenue Budget for 2012-13; and

(c)

approves the actions, arrangements and recommendations at Sections 5, 6 and 12 above, and the following specific delegations:-

(d)

authorises the Director of Policy and Research to:-

(i)

to agree the terms of and authorise the completion of all funding agreements relating to grants made from the Voluntary Sector Grants Fund, the Small Grants Fund and the Lunch Clubs Fund (‘the Grant Funds’), together with any other associated agreements or arrangements that he may consider appropriate, provided that if the terms of a proposed funding agreement involve the variation of any standard terms previously agreed by Internal Audit and / or Legal Services the agreement shall not be completed without the consent of the Chief Internal Auditor and the Director of Legal Services; and

(ii)

where (a) a change of circumstance affects the ability of an organisation to deliver the purpose of the grant awarded, (b) the Director considers the performance of the organisation to be below an acceptable standard or (c) an organisation has breached any of the award conditions contained in their funding agreement, to review, adjust or suspend grant awards; and

(e)

authorises the Director, Policy, Partnership and Research, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Communities and Inclusion:-

(i)

to determine the eligibility criteria, and the award and monitoring processes for the new Small Grants Fund;

(ii)

to agree the amounts, purposes and recipients of any individual grants awarded in year from the Grant Funds including any additional sums received or returned or unpaid funds;

(iii)

to withdraw grant awards, where (a) a change of circumstance affects the ability of an organisation to deliver the purpose of the grant awarded or (b) the Director considers the performance of the organisation to be below an acceptable standard or (c) an organisation has breached any of the award conditions contained in their funding agreement.

7.1.3

Reasons for Recommendations

The reason for the recommendations is to support the local voluntary sector by making awards of funding from the Council grant aid budget.  The purpose of grant aid investment is :-

• to mobilise volunteering and promote active citizenship

• to provide experience and training opportunities for local people and create jobs

• to provide important services for local citizens and innovative responses to emerging social needs

• to enable voluntary organisations to draw in external funding and boost the local economy. 

7.1.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

No alternatives were considered because the purpose of the report is to implement decisions made by Cabinet to establish a Voluntary Sector Grants Fund, which were set out in the report Revenue Grant funding for the Voluntary and Community Sector 2012 onwardsthat was approved by Cabinet on 28th September 2011.

(NOTE: Councillor Jack Scott declared a prejudicial interest in the above item on the grounds of his employment with Voluntary Action Sheffield and left the room during the consideration of the item.)