Agenda and minutes

The Leader of the Council welcomed all those present, including representatives from the voluntary and community sector, to the special meeting of Cabinet.

The Leader stated that the special meeting had been convened to consider the recommendation to refer back the previous decision made by Cabinet on Grant Funding 2011/12 from the Call-In Sub-Committee meeting held on 4 May 2011.  It was advised that the Call-In Sub-Committee had decided, inter alia, to uphold the call-in submitted by Harrow Association of Disabled people (HAD), Harrow Mencap and Flash Musicals on the ground that there was no evidence that due regard had been given to the Council’s equality duties when setting percentage thresholds.

Those present were informed that there were no provisions to ask questions of the Portfolio Holders at special meetings of Cabinet.  However, to assist, the Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services, the Corporate Director Community and Environment and the Divisional Director Community and Culture would be available at the end of the meeting to answer questions on an informal basis.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests arising from business to be transacted at this meeting from:

(a)               all Members of the Cabinet; and

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 2 – Allocation of Grant Funding 2011/12:  Response to Referral from Scrutiny Call-In

Councillor Margaret Davine declared an interest in that she was a Trustee of the Women’s Centre, and would leave before the decision.

Councillor Brian Gate declared that he was a Trustee of Harrow Association of Voluntary Service (HAVS) and on the Board of Trustees of Harrow in Europe and on the Management Trustee Board of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and would leave before the decision was made.

Report of the Corporate Director Community and Environment.

Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director Community and Environment, which set out information relating to the allocation of grant funding to the voluntary and community sector for 2011/12, as requested through the Scrutiny Call-in process.

The Corporate Director Community and Environment introduced the report and reported that Cabinet was being asked to consider the decision taken by the Call-in Sub-Committee.  The recommendation before Cabinet was seeking affirmation of the decision made by Cabinet on 7 April having taken into account additional information on the equality duties when setting the percentage thresholds.

The Corporate Director provided a background to the meetings of Cabinet and the subsequent Call-In Sub-Committee held on 7 April and 4 May, respectively.  The Call-ins had been received from Harrow and Wealdstone Shopmobility, Harrow Association of Disabled people (HAD), Harrow Mencap and Flash Musicals.  He explained that two matters had been raised by the Call-in Sub-Committee, as follows:

·                     late circulation of papers, thereby precluding voluntary and community groups from asking questions and/or making deputations at the Grants Advisory Panel and Cabinet meetings.  He explained that due to the large number of applications received, the size of the bids made and the need to carry out additional quality assurance, it had not been possible to circulate papers in a timely fashion;

·                     there was no evidence that due regard had been given to the Council’s equality duties when setting percentage thresholds.  The Corporate Director explained that, as a result, an objective analysis had been undertaken, as set out at appendix 2a of his report, which set out an analysis of applications received by protected equality characteristics served in relation to question 5 of the grant application form.  There was little statistical difference of impact at different thresholds.  Additionally, an analysis of applications by scoring and target group served had been carried out as set out appendix 2b.  This analysis was based on information provided by the applicant to questions 3c and 3d of the grant application form and a judgement had been made on which were the primary, secondary and tertiary target groups served by a project.  This had helped to support the objective analysis in terms of the thresholds at appendix 2a.

Cabinet was informed that a considerable time had been spent assessing the 131 applications that had been received to ensure that the process was robust, thorough and transparent, as recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Corporate Director also stressed that this was an interim year for the process.  Officers had conducted a consultation with the voluntary and community sector on the future of the grants processes from 2012/13 onwards.  During the consultation, the Council outlined the possibility of a Commissioning Model for services and a small grants programme for projects.

Mention was made that Cabinet, when making its decision, should be mindful of the following:

·                     percentage thresholds – an internal audit report had raised concerns that if thresholds were set at a low level, it could undermine the viability of projects;

·                     risks  ...  view the full minutes text for item 202.