Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that

(i)            the following Revenue Grants for 2023/24 be awarded to:

a.    Surrey Heath Citizens Advice (CASH) – £80,000;

b.    Basingstoke Canal Authority - £10,000;

c.    Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership - £10,000;

d.    Surrey Heath Age Concern - £10,000.

e.    Camberley Central Job Club - £6,000.

f.     The Hope Hub - £40,000.

g.    Voluntary Support North Surrey - £20,000:

h.    VSNS-Time to Talk - £10,000.

(ii)          the other in-kind benefits provided to organisations be noted;

(iii)         no grant awards to be made to Catalyst Support and Surrey Heath Sports Council;

(iv)         from 1 April 2023, the Hope Hub be classified as ringfenced organisation for a three-year period;

(v)          Notice to be given to Basingstoke Canal Authority and Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership that the Council are not able to commit at this time to continue revenue funding beyond 31 March 2024;

(vi)         all grants be subject to Service Level Agreements; and

(vii)        the decision of the Executive on 19 January 2022 to use remaining funds from the Containment Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to meet the Revenue Grant costs for the three ringfenced organisations:2023/24, for Citizens Advice Surrey Heath (£80,000); for Basingstoke Canal Authority (£10,000); and for Black Water Valley Countryside Partnership (£10,000) be noted.

The Executive considered a report detailing recommendations for revenue grant payments to voluntary organisations for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, including the three organisations identified for ring-fenced funding for that period. It was noted that, in January 2022, it had been agreed that for the 2023/24 financial year the funding for the ring-fenced organisations, namely Citizens Advice Surrey Heath, Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership and the Basingstoke Canal Authority, would be allocated from the Containment Outbreak Management Fund.

Members were advised that it was not proposed to award a grant to Catalyst Support as the organisation had advised that it was confident that the identified project could be funded from another source. In addition, it was not proposed to award a grant to Surrey Heath Sports Council as the organisation had not awarded any grants in 2022/23 and would be carrying forward this unspent fund to the next financial year. In response to concerns raised about the reduction in funding for Voluntary Support North Surrey it was advised that the organisation currently had healthy reserves there was confidence that there would not be any consequential impact on the Council’s services.

The Executive was informed that, given the growing pressure arising from homelessness in the borough and the Hope Hub’s key role in supporting the Council’s homeless response, it was proposed to increase its grant for 2023/24 to £40,000. Furthermore, it was agreed to ringfence the organisation’s funding for a three year period, from 1 April 2023.

Members were informed that, in accordance with the decision of the Executive in January 2022, all non-ringfenced revenue grant recipient organisations had been advised that, due to budget restrictions, the Council was not able to guarantee financial support through a revenue grant scheme beyond 31 March 2023. It was agreed that notice would be given to Basingstoke Canal Authority and Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership that the Council was not able to commit at that time to continue revenue funding beyond 31 March 2024.

RESOLVED that

(i)     the following Revenue Grants for 2023/24 be awarded to:

a.    Surrey Heath Citizens Advice (CASH) – £80,000;

b.    Basingstoke Canal Authority - £10,000;

c.    Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership - £10,000;

d.    Surrey Heath Age Concern - £10,000;

e.    Camberley Central Job Club - £6,000;

f.     The Hope Hub - £40,000;

g.    Voluntary Support North Surrey - £20,000;

h.    VSNS-Time to Talk - £10,000;

(ii)   the other in-kind benefits provided to organisations be noted;

(iii)  no grant awards to be made to Catalyst Support and Surrey Heath Sports Council;

(iv)  from 1 April 2023, the Hope Hub be classified as ringfenced organisation for a three-year period;

(v)   Notice to be given to Basingstoke Canal Authority and Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership that the Council is not able to commit at this time to continue revenue funding beyond 31 March 2024;

(vi)  all grants be subject to Service Level Agreements; and

(vii)    the decision of the Executive on 19 January 2022 to use remaining funds from the Containment Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to meet the Revenue Grant costs for the three ringfenced organisations:2023/24, for Citizens Advice Surrey Heath (£80,000); for Basingstoke Canal Authority (£10,000); and for Black Water Valley Countryside Partnership (£10,000) be noted.

Note: The following declarations of interest were reported:

(i)           It was noted for the record that Councillor Rodney Bates declared that his sister worked for Catalyst Support, but was not involved in the project included in the organisation’s application;

(ii)          In accordancewith the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Sarah Jane Croke declared a non-pecuniary interest as she assisted with Surrey Heath Age Concern;

(iii)         In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Shaun Garrett declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was the Council’s representative on Surrey Heath Age Concern;

(iv)         In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Edward Hawkins declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was Surrey County Council’s representative on Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership; and

(v)          It was noted for the record that Councillor Alan McClafferty declared that he and his wife were no longer involved with Surrey Heath Age Concern.