Decision details

Grants to Mobile Warden Schemes 2021/2024

Decision Maker: Lead Cabinet member for Resources

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

On 26 March 2021 the Grants Advisory Committee met to decide how to allocate the funding for existing Mobile/Community Warden schemes as part of the Council’s scheme of grants to the voluntary sector.

 

Mobile and Community Wardens Schemes (sometimes called Community Care Schemes) exist in South Cambridgeshire to support older people to live independently in their homes and in the community they know, and which knows them.

 

The warden schemes are complementary to statutory care services and do not duplicate or replace the medical or social care services that individuals may also require.  They can help to combat loneliness and social isolation and can provide significant benefits to clients at relatively low cost. They are seen by clients and their families as a vital community-based service.

 

South Cambridgeshire District Council has been providing grant funding to Mobile and Community Warden Schemes for many years.  The grant application process was run from November to January.

 

Grants Advisory Committee recommended to grant funding to the Mobile Warden Schemes as follows:

 

Year 1 (2021-2022)  £33,800

Year 2 (2022-2023)  £53,202

Year 3 (2023-2024)  £71,708

 

An increase in funding was made possible due to an underspend from the procurement exercise last year.   The increases in year 2 and 3 reflect incremental increases to operational costs and the addition of new schemes procured in 2020 by Age UK.  This does not include the Gamlingay scheme which will require part funding from October 2022, for which funding has been set aside. 

Decision:

To award the Mobile Warden Schemes the grant funding for 2021/24 as per table 1 below.

 

To support a valuable community led service within each of these wards/villages in keeping with the Council’s aims and objectives.

 

The decision to award the grants as per Table 1 was made taking into consideration:

a)    the amount of grant funding requested,

b)    the fees charged by to the client 

c)     the number of clients supported in the previous year,

d)    income and expenditure for the previous year,

e)    the schemes finances, and

f)      the amount of reserved and unreserved funding.

g)    Increases to operational costs over the 3-year period

h)    Plans to promote schemes and build capacity to meet the needs of more clients throughout the term of the grant.

 

 

 

Table 1: Proposed Grant Allocation

 

See Appendix A

Reasons for the decision:

All the above options were rejected as Grants Advisory Committee recommended funding all the schemes to the full amount requested given the schemes may incur increased operational costs over the 3 year term of the agreement.

Alternative options considered:

a)    award the amount set out in Year 1 which remains static over the 3 year period; or

b)    award an alternative amount of funding to each scheme, including zero funding, to a maximum of the funding available within the scheme; or

c)    defer a decision if further information is required.

 

All the above options were rejected as Grants Advisory Committee recommended funding all the schemes to the full amount requested given the schemes may incur increased operational costs over the 3 year term of the agreement. 

Publication date: 01/04/2021

Date of decision: 31/03/2021

Effective from: 13/04/2021

Accompanying Documents: