Decision details

To seek approval to provide a grant of £10,000 to WE R HERE, a grant of £40,000 to Citizens Advice Nottingham and District and a grant of £5,000 to Gedling Play Forum, to be expended by the three organisations during the period April 2021 – March 2022 for the purposes as set out in this report.

THAT:
1.The Portfolio Holder approves the giving of a £10,000 grant to WE R HERE, a £40,000 grant to Citizens Advice Nottingham and District and a £5,000 grant to Gedling Play Forum to be expended by the organisations in the financial year 2020/21
2.The Portfolio Holder authorises the Corporate Director, Environment, Communities and Leisure to enter into grant agreements with WE R HERE, Nottingham and District Citizens Advice and Gedling Play Forum to secure how the grants are used and monitor expenditure and performance.

In recent years, the Council has provided grants to WE R HERE, Citizens Advice Nottingham and District and Gedling Play Forum, to enable the provision of financial and family crisis intervention services and creative play activities to residents in areas of high demonstrated need.
Services of these organisations are generally provided either in outreach settings, at community events or at the central base of each organisation. As well as general advice, guidance and play activities being available to the wider Gedling population, these grants enable the three organisations to provide targeted support in the areas where most need has been identified.
Each organisation has adjusted its services to meet current Government Guidelines in relation to the Covid – 19 pandemic, and have held preliminary discussions with Officers of the Council giving assurance of a robust service and responsive planning to ensure continuous service during the recovery phase of the pandemic.
It is proposed that the Council continues its support of these organisations and provide a further grant for the 2021/22 financial year to enable all three organisations to continue to provide targeted support and family craft play activities to vulnerable residents and families in the Borough. A description of the services to be provided by WE R HERE are attached at Appendix 1, by Citizens Advice Nottingham and District at Appendix 2 and for Gedling Play Forum at Appendix 3.
It is proposed that the Council provides these grants following completion of a grant agreement with each organisation to secure how the grant is used and to be able to monitor performance. The Council will also be able to require re-payment of the funds if the grant has been misspent. The grant agreements will require the timely submission of detailed biannual / quarterly outputs and outcome reports respectively, and an annual outturn report detailing the impact of the grants which will then be considered by the Council’s Senior Leadership Team.

To enter into provide grants of differing values or with different output levels and target areas. The values of the grant have been approved at full Council based on detailed discussions and comparative benchmarking, and the outputs have been reviewed to ensure value for money and maximum benefit to Gedling residents in areas where there is statistical evidence of most need.
Not to enter into Grant Agreements with the three organisations. This option would potentially place some of the most vulnerable residents of Gedling at risk of exclusion from essential intervention and community play services and a reduced quality of life.