Issue - items at meetings - Third Sector Investment Programme 2017-2020

Report of the Acting Director of Public Health (copy attached)

13.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Public Health detailing the proposed arrangements and funding outcomes of the Third Sector Investment Programme 2017-2020. The report also included details on the programme’s two constituent parts: a second Communities and Third Sector three year commissioning prospectus and an annual Communities Fund.

13.2    It was explained that the council had a clear and strong commitment to the Third Sector in Brighton and Hove and that this was set out in its Corporate Plan and the Communities and Third Sector Policy. It was recognised that public services were under increasing pressure as a result of both demand and reducing resources. The Third Sector remained key to helping the council and its partners to respond to that challenge. In order to support the required changes the council had reviewed its Third Sector investment and Commissioning arrangements to seek to ensure that they were delivering maximum value for money, meeting community need and effectively supporting the Sector to improve and thrive.

13.3    Improvements to the council’s Third Sector investments had been made in 2013 through the first Communities and Third Sector Commissioning Prospectus and in July 2015, this Committee had approved the development of a second Communities and Third Sector Commission which had drawn in more funding streams from partners and from across the council, including the Three Year Discretionary Grants Programme. Officers had been instructed to review these to ensure that the annual grant scheme continued to be effective in meeting the needs of third sector groups in the city.

13.4    Joanna Martindale, Hangleton and Knoll Project commended the programme stating that the approach proposed lay at the heart of obtaining future results and gave an important perspective on the needs and benefits of collaborative working. Within the Third Sector itself there was certainly an appetite for more collaborative working going forward.

13.5    Councillor Littman commended the work that had been undertaken and the bottom up approach which had been adopted, rather than seeking to impose a “one size fits all”. Councillor Simson concurred in that view.

13.6    The Chair, Councillor Daniel, stated that the importance of good governance arrangements could not be over stated and it was very promising that points raised during the dialogue which had taken place had been addressed and taken on board in formulating the Programme.

13.7    A vote was taken and members voted unanimously in support of the recommendations set out in the report.

13.8    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee approves, in principle, the Communities and Third Sector commissioning principles and outcomes as set out in Appendix 1 to the report subject to a final review and deliberation by the Members Advisory Group (MAG) in light of the Fairness Commission report and recommendations;

            (2) That the Committee approves, in principle, the new annual Communities Fund (from 2017) as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report and detailed in Appendix 2, to complement the second Communities and Third Sector Commission, subject to a final review and deliberation by the Members Advisory Group in light of the Fairness Commission report and recommendations;

            (3) That the Committee notes the continued pooling of budgets from the Council and NHS, CCG for community engagement and infrastructure support which enables more joined up provision by the chosen providers and more seamless experience for communities, maximising the impact of funding. Brighton and Hove City Council, Adult Social Care has also included their engagement commissions; and

            (4) That Delegated Authority be granted to the Chief Executive to :

            Use the outcomes agreed above to procure, in partnership with NHS, CCG, the third sector infrastructure, community development and engagement, financial inclusion, Healthwatch and NHS ICAS and strategic investment in the community and voluntary sector, using a commission prospectus approach and subject to final review by MAG and budget setting agreements.