Issue details

1. The Voluntary and Community Service Support Grants (SSG) offers funding to voluntary and community organisations (VCSO) that deliver services for our residents.  The scheme offers 3-year funding agreements to eligible organisations.   The current 3-year agreements are due to expire at the end of the financial year 2021/22 and officers and members of the Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) took the opportunity, in a workshop on 4 August 2021, to review the scheme to ensure that the aims and objectives reflected the corporate objectives of the Council and its policy/strategic direction.  A briefing was later arranged with Cllr John Williams to review the workshop outcomes.

2. The Voluntary and Community Service Support grant agreement scheme has not seen a budget increase for over 10 years other than small incremental inflationary increases.  As part of this scheme, the grants issued by the Housing Department have not seen a budget increase since 2007 except for inflationary increases.

3. Adding to the complexity of the review is its timing, following almost two years of unpredictable economic and social circumstances as a result of a global pandemic.

4. Whilst a number of issues were discussed, the committee were asked to review the following 4 issues:

1.    The timing of the launch of a new three-year grant in order to ensure a fair and equitable process and whether to extend the existing agreements by 1 year with the same terms and conditions.

2.    The timing of an introduction of a new theme for voluntary organisations working with young people (using existing unspent funding).

3.    The ongoing provision of financial assistance to the Farmland Museum.

4.    The budget required for our Voluntary and Community Service Support grants moving forward.