Issue - meetings

Further to the report to Cabinet on 19 April 2024, which identified grant spending that has occurred in 2023/24, this report proposes a revised approach and process for the authority to make decisions in respect of External Funding for allocating grant funding and/or other financial assistance / support in the future, in line with the Council’s Corporate Vision and Priorities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)     approves the External Funding High Level Framework, as set out in Appendix 1 to the Partnerships Portfolio Holder’s report (A.7), which provides a process for the acceptance of external funding provision, a process for the provision of financial assistance to external bodies and other allocation of funding, with immediate effect;

b)     agrees that an External Funding Policy be developed for approval by the Leader of the Council, in his capacity as the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to complement the External Funding High Level Framework, and that it be presented to a future meeting of the Audit Committee for their support and assurance on the governance processes; and

c)      requests that external and internal communication on the Council’s new arrangements for External Funding be undertaken ensuring the Council complies with its obligations under its Best Value Duty and statutory guidance.

Cabinet considered a report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder (A.7), which proposed a revised approach and process for the Authority to make decisions in respect of External Funding for allocating grant funding and/or other financial assistance / support in the future, in line with the Council’s Corporate Vision and Priorities.

It was reported that the revised approach set out the parameters for allocating funding to ensure a consistent approach was followed and supported by Portfolio Holder decisions. Although a high level framework and checklist approach was recommended for approval through this Portfolio Holder report, further to this decision, an External Funding Policy would be developed and submitted to the Audit Committee in order to support the governance around the allocation of External Funding.

Cabinet was informed that the External Funding Policy would be approved by the Leader of the Council, acting in his capacity as Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, as to be adhered to and applying across the Council for all areas, not just within specific portfolio responsibilities.  However, in the interim the high level framework would apply with immediate effect to all external funding and should be followed prior to the expiry of any existing arrangements.

Having considered existing provision across the organisation, the Council’s Corporate Plan and Priorities, legislative requirements, and how external funding can be accepted and/or allocated in the future:-

It was moved by Councillor M E Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Placey and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)     approves the External Funding High Level Framework, as set out in Appendix 1 to the Partnerships Portfolio Holder’s report (A.7), which provides a process for the acceptance of external funding provision, a process for the provision of financial assistance to external bodies and other allocation of funding, with immediate effect;

b)     agrees that an External Funding Policy be developed for approval by the Leader of the Council, in his capacity as the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to complement the External Funding High Level Framework, and that it be presented to a future meeting of the Audit Committee for their support and assurance on the governance processes; and

c)      requests that external and internal communication on the Council’s new arrangements for External Funding be undertaken ensuring the Council complies with its obligations under its Best Value Duty and statutory guidance.