Issue - meetings

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy)): To report on the evaluation of the funding given to community organisations over the last 3 years and to agree funding for a further 3 years if appropriate.

The report was the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contained exempt information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

Councillor Amin declared an interest due to her role as a Trustee of the Selby Centre and withdrew from the meeting when this item was discussed as part of the report on ‘Continuation Funding for Community Organisations’.

The Head of the Voluntary Sector Team introduced this item and summarised the progress of the organisations as set out in the main body of the report, and in greater detail at Appendix 4 of the report.   Our Chair was pleased to advise that under the ‘traffic light’ evaluations, most of these organisations were on green with amber, with the greatest sanctions applied to those few which were predominantly red.

Clarification was sought of why certain organisations which had worked hard to make improvements but which still had a deficit  in their accounts were to be the subject of sanctions while others were not. We were advised  that while all organisations had shown an improvement in at least one area of improvement; not all improvements were considered worthy of a conditional grant. Concern having been expressed about programmes operated by certain community groups, the Head of the Voluntary Sector Team offered to investigate this matter further and report back to Members of our Committee. 

We were reminded that ‘Conditional Grant’ meant that organisations would still be working closely with the Council but that organisations which were considered to be insolvent could not be funded. 

We were also advised that organisations were encouraged to become Registered Charities and this was conditional.  However, limited companies could still be ‘not for profit’ if this was preferable to some of the restrictions which could be imposed on charities. 

RESOLVED

That subject to the recommendations/requirements detailed in  paragraph 7.3.1 of the interleaved report –

1)     The following organisations be awarded a further 3 years funding for the period 1.4.2007 to 31.3.2010

·        Jackson Lane Community Centre 

·        Cypriot Community Centre

·        Haringey Irish Cultural and Community Centre

·        Kurdish Community Centre

·        Haringey Chinese Centre

·        Haringey Somali Community and Cultural Association

·        Selby Trust

·        Hornsey Vale Community Association

·        Alhijra Somali Community Association

·        Ethiopian Community Centre in the UK

2)     That, subject to the additional condition that the monitoring officer be satisfied with the progress of improvement being made by the Kurdish Advice Centre at 31.3.2007, that their grant continues but that the recommendations of the review be closely monitored by officers.

3)     That the African Caribbean Leadership Council be awarded conditional support in the form of the seconded post continuing to work with them.

4)     That, subject to the additional condition that the organisation become a registered charity, a conditional award be made to the Asian Action Group Ltd.

5)     That, subject to the additional condition that the Council of Asian People agree to their staff who are funded by grant being paid through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10