Issue - items at meetings - Third Sector Recession Action Plan

Report of the Acting Director, Strategy and Governance

6.1       The Communities Team Manager introduced the report that considered how to support community and voluntary sector groups through the recession and emerge strongly and more influential afterwards.

6.2       Officers were making groups aware of the help already available including the business relief package for small businesses and some charities and voluntary groups in the city.  Community and voluntary groups not involved trading were being advised of other types of support to help them survive and take new opportunities in the economic downturn.

6.3       Charity shops for instance were enjoying a boom but conversely were receiving fewer gifts and less stock. Therefore officers would be working together with the third sector and LSP members on a specialist plan that extended beyond traditional types of business support.

6.4       Answering a question about discretionary grant funding for local community groups the Communities Team Manager said there needed to be a balance between smaller and larger groups, the latter being more likely to be trading. Most income into the City’s third sector – around £26 million - was via contracted commissioned work whereas the council’s grants funding accounted for only around £2 million. So it was important to influence procurement in the City.

6.5       Analysis by the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum indicated that some smaller groups spent a high proportion of funding on administration or accommodation. Larger groups may be to support smaller ones for example by sharing premises to cut costs.

6.6       Members congratulated the officers on the ‘excellent’ advice and information for this year’s round of discretionary grants round. The Credit Union, and Back to work and Debt advice services were regarded as particularly important and some members stated that  Housing Associations could potentially do more to support the third sector locally. 

6.7       The Commission welcomed the report and the approach to the action plan. There was a level of caution about improving cost-efficiency especially of smaller local groups as in some cases this could adversely affect goals and achievements. When organisations started to grow and employ more people, this was often the stage when they needed extra help.

6.8       RESOLVED:  that the Overview and Scrutiny Commission

(1)       Endorses the development of a Third Sector Recession Action Plan in partnership with the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum and the LSP.

(2)       Instructs officers to bring the draft Plan back to the Commission for comment and Member input prior to its agreement.