Grants Sub-Committee - Monday 6 November 2023, 7:00pm - Wandsworth Council Webcasting

Grants Sub-Committee
Monday, 6th November 2023 at 7:00pm 

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my name is Councillor Jeremy An Bash, and I'm Chair of the grant sub-committee members of the Committee, I will now call your names in alphabetical order, please switch on your microphone to confirm your attendance Councillor Sheila Boswell.
Councillor Sheila Boswell, Tooting Bec ward present. Thank you, Councillor Claire Gilbert,
Councillor Claire Gilbert, West Putney ward, leaving everyone Councillor Mrs. Angela Graham present.
Councillor Daniel Hamilton, good evening present Councillor Lindsey Hedges.
Councillor Lindsay hedgerows, Balham ward, good evening everyone, Councillor Steve World present, I've had apologies from Councillors, similar Varatharajah.
and
that's the full attendance. I'm looking forward to the meeting this evening, the main businesses to consider the 23 applications for the cost of living grant funds. We have a number of officers present who will introduce themselves as they address the Committee
declarations of interests are there any declarations of either pecuniary or other registrable or non registrable interests, Councillor Claire Gilbert?
Chair, I would like to declare one other registrable instrument registrable interest non-pecuniary, in item 18.
on the paper, which is the application by the S-W 15 women's network I am the secretary of the network and therefore I think it's probably best if I don't take part in that item, thank you very much, yeah Councillor Gilbert, if you want to say something about the application and then leave the room for the discussion you can and then Democratic Services will call you back in when we've determined that item.

1 Declaration of Interests

2 Minutes - 11th October 2023

OK are there any other declarations of interest, thank you so the minutes of the 11th October.
does the committee agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 11th of October, and can I sign them as a correct record?
great.
so I just wanted to say.
there was an action for me on page 2 to have discussions with Councillor Akinola as the Cabinet Member and Councillor Hedges as the opposition spokesperson.
in relation to achieving outcome reports by the various bids and projects, I haven't been able to do that in time for this committee, but I'm hoping to do that before we meet for the next meeting.
OK.
good we're on to Item 3 Bruce Murdoch will introduce this item paper 23 3 6 6

3 Cost of Living Grant Fund, Round 1 (Paper No. 23-366)

thank you Chair again numbers, Bruce Martin procedure grants to an officer for the voluntary sector, and so this is the paper for the cost of living grant fund, which was set up this year to make available, supporting this just to support initiatives to provide vulnerable residents to access community species and affordable nutritious food and bolster the VCFS capacity in responding to the cost of living crisis.
add grants of between 230 two and a half thousand and 20,000 across two rounds are available, so as around this evening and there's another round coming up in the next application deadline to 4th December, and will you've come to Committee in at our this February meeting, so it is the first round.
the the the the grant originally was 450,000 from the cost of living main grant fund and that's been top-sliced as to a 30,000 dollars it was put towards the around 24 at our last meeting, which would help to support the kitchen fund. Actually couldn't keep the members will remember and to help with the management cost of this of the weakness in our 30,000 top-slice, so it means that across the two rounds of there's 390,000 available
and so in this round there we got 27 applications for an ineligible, and so to now we bring you recommendations totalling 170,683.
are there any questions for Mr Murdoch or I'm sure Mr. Evans will also help, if needed, you know, Councillor Hedges'.
thank you Chair, and thank you, Mr Murdoch, for your update there just a question around timing because I understand we have a grant meeting at the end of November, so presumably that's the community grant fund and the grant fund.
sorry, the Borough of Sanctuary, a community fund, and then the Wandsworth Grants Fund, and then we have will have another meeting to go through the cost of living grants next year is that right?
nondescript, so the meeting on the 29th November which members should have in your diary will.
the arts and culture team will bring forward recommendations for the Wandsworth arts fringe so as just as are designated to fund within the one to grant fund, to support that, so the 29th of November will purely be that right in the meeting on the 6th of February 5th February on 5th February will have the Borough of Sanctuary fund.
will have the one-off grant from June 25 and will have the second round of the cost of living fund, OK just thank you for that, Mr Murdoch, and just one more follow up on that, given the time there's gonna be a time gap obviously between
the cost of living grant that we awarded this evening to February, I just wanted to make a statement on behalf of Conservative Councillors that if you do need to have any ad hoc meetings rather than to get some grants through because understandably it's going to be called, we're gonna the there could be all sorts of all sorts of grant funds that need to be pushed through very quickly given the winter period.
we are very open to meeting ad hoc and we will we are, you know, we would like to go through the democratic process, so please don't feel you have to go through the ESA 83, a process we are willing to to meet, thank you.
due to just clarify because there is something to do with the SFO 83 process with the applications we're gonna consider this evening.
yeah, OK, Mr. Evans.
so just acknowledging the point that Councillor Hedges said, I think that's absolutely right, and we I've said the intention is for the next round of this grandpa and we'll go through the grant 0 see similar to what it is tonight.
what we also know after Sir Nye, and we've done this before, is a will ratify the decisions coming out of the committee's norovirus 83, so we can get the
we can get notification out to the groups and successful awardees quickly, the alternative is, we wait two weeks for or whatever the timing is for the Executive, and we think actually it needs to be done more urgently than now, but obviously it's in the full transparency of this committee tonight OUTL Heritage can I just say it's really helpful what you're saying is if we need to have an urgent meeting before the February meeting we were happy to do so.
the other questions on this paper.
no, we're happy with the recommendations on page 4 recommendation 1 and 2.
greed, yes, thank you very much.
we're on to considering the individual applications and I suggest we do it similar to the way we did it last time, although we I think we had 50 last time, so we have a little bit more time for discussion and Mr Murdoch will introduce each of them very briefly, with a few sentence summary is, is it possible Bruce? Thank you. Thank you, Chair and just first I will say to Members that one of the things that we've been trying to do, but with the grant applications this year is the there's a sum based on the last winter's warm space and food grant, which we have possibly the capacity building fund as well, so we've collectively within the team and working with the cost of living team and policy
we have looked at the things that we've learnt to things that worked well and things that are things that didn't, and also it's just, for example, some of the things that we learn towards the
if you would like to walk to places where we're also looking at where there was gaps geographically, it feels places and work, and we're conscious of that and and something with this bundle, not being the the first round of to know where we are sort of conscious of where we're getting applications from and we're conscious that we're getting bundles of applications from certain geographical areas and so are conscious of that.
one twin would certainly come to look at this second round later on the year will have to be sought, but more stupid will have more information both about where council projects are as good in terms of the cost of living
and but also like we're more Ventnor where other voluntary sector organisations have got places as well not necessarily grant-funded but meeting bestsellers so we know with the we know the within the community there are projects who as we are putting things on and they'll be standing up to the n, the community species directory so we're we're conscious of all these all these parameters as as we go through one and I would just be reassured that we are we are looking at these things.
and so just to start off with number 1 Battersea Arts Centre.
it is not, this is to reinstate that they're the roundworm space project which they had last year.
to support pupils during the current cost of living and to provide a warm space in some activities, but it's not recommended.
any comments or questions that, but committed in agreement with the recommendation, thank you, Mr Murdoch number 2 as the number 2 is critical support, and this was to to apply for funding to basically to to cover the rental costs for Rivage refrigerated van for are for for one year as the the which they used to deliver surplus food around the borough but it's not recommended.
greed greed.
okay number 3 outnumber 3 is the Duddington and rural community association.
which is recommended for a grant of 1,792 specifically for to help with a redecorating they applied for funding towards some improvement of their community halls and attempted in terms of software to redecoration, also in top of that to to support some some free venue hire for a number of organisations which are in the local area which use their premises and also some capacity building training and but we didn't feel that the the there was enough detail in terms of who the end beneficiary was.
it was with all those components and it's won the tie, although what we're happy to support the the the redecorating costs which, in some ways complements the grant, which we agreed in round 24 with kitchen equipment and but for them to come back in in the future round of December not with the some more detail.
any NCA yes, on minor is a comment and done and a suggestion, so I note on page 23, it says this is particularly problematic where organisations listed as beneficiaries have separate applications being considered for funding and done I wondered as this is all new to everybody, so it's a learning curve that there might be something in the application that asks on them to look at that of before they list down organisations to basically to talk to each other.
I've had those conversations with a few of them already and I think some of the time that this came out and again just nudge people.
I and we weren't able to probably talk to people as much as we would like to have done at the time just because it was good as quite fast, but it's certainly a conversation I'm having with no consumer software, there's just clusters of organisations working together just to make sure that they talk to each because there is some overlap that does not just not too much here and there's nothing that actually,
make sense of our recommendations in any different interior, there's not enough, but I could certainly see in the future round that there could be Andrew when you just want to try to avoid that, but it is a learning covers all the thing.
this Councillor Graham
following on from your question.
I'm very interested in seeing how well I'm very, I really want to see more of these.
rants considered working with Council departments as well as at its United and connected rather than just one of I don't know as you as you are looking at a a new process, I'd I just feel that is quite important as well.
you certainly.
I know a sense of the primary assessing we do, talk to other officers across the Council and answering them, because we know the other teams are working on a cost of living elements as well, which were brought in and have dwindled to just some of the recommendations in some other no N A applications reflect that so the hoops for those commissioners and or others who are doing grants so we're trying to tie those things together.
one one other point from me, as well as being clear whether this is supporting other organisations or other organisations bidding, we need to be clear on that, but we also need to be clear when organisations work together like the Dodington Rollo, with various voluntary groups, who the end users are and how big the that there can be benefit great idea for organisations to work to together, but we need to know what the benefits are, gonna be for elderly people or to our children or whoever but I think CA Committee's agreeing your recommendation and we would be pleased if this comes back in the next round.
thank you number 4 number 4, Eliseo Foodbank and Elsfield, Tweedbank, and and this is in some ways a continuation of a culture which they will be supported last year and and nationally, this is helping them to expand the existing service by increasing to the Duty managers which enables them to to actually grow and extend the services which they wish to do it in upon it on a Thursday morning as soon as a recommendation for 12,000 pounds.
we're on to number 5, he lays Network.
Emily ill isn't a network so recommendation for 18,270 with some conditions? So there's provides some, it's actually an expansion of the of their project. We should do the 200 mainly work out of the batter area of roof real street and they provide a lot of family support and, as I think this one is quite different to some of the other statutory providing support to families, and actually you know, it was news to me that they were working in Southfields in Roehampton, but we know that the the have been supporting families Roehampton for some time and but it sounds a good extension into Southfield so recommended to members
thank you, Chair yeah, I think I had similar thoughts on reading this delighted that they have been recommended for for support and delighted to see that their remit across the borough or their intention is to participate, spread the good work that they do, I do think it's exceptionally difficult to reach out sometimes there's a new provider or even a very very well established provider to people who really really really need help.
you know, I've worked with an organisation in the borough that's been established for a very long time and we still sit around and talk about this and how difficult it is. So I think it's coming back to some of the comments that had been made earlier about working together and you know, for example, with other organisations were mentioned in later applications, so who were very embedded in Roehampton and South Fields so for example in South Fields, the local church and church and faith communities, the women's network in Roehampton the citizens advice and the fees clubs that we have still open just to make sure that they hit the ground running, because we are so close to the winter and all of those challenges, because it was news to me that they're doing much in Roehampton and if it's nice to one of the local council has, then maybe the word does need some some assistance in getting out. Thank you
Councillor Hamilton, thank you very much and I think a great application. I can certainly see huge community benefit to what's proposed here and also to be voting voting in favour of it. The only really concern I have is obviously that this is an application that's very much dedicated towards staffing, and I could see there being huge benefits being delivered during the period of this this this budget was available, but I could easily see if it wasn't maintained from a fundraising perspective that this may fall away at the end of the period that the Council is able to support them. My only question is a broad one and it may apply also to other papers that we look into this evening. Is, is there any support that we can give organisations like this, that do bring somebody on board as a member of staff to help mental them in terms of how they develop their own fundraising plans, how they basically become more sustainable as organisations, because some of these projects are one-off, that's great. I can certainly see the benefit that comes from them, but I do have some concerns in the long term about staffing costs and how they have a sustainable.
Evans D. Herb John Evans, John, do you want to say is, I think
I mean, the sort of support you talk about is often was delivered by sort of third sector, support agent agencies and one in groups in borrowers of CBS's and things that pins either.
once it doesn't have or a CVS or a similar, though there is some support offered through some of the sector, so it is not a straightforward answer, I don't think it's something we are aware of and of course we've been doing some work recently as you'll know we'd have onset a needs assessment which becomes committee shortly are around how
the sector and can support or have better support, can be provided to the sector really and how they can support themselves, so it's a wider question, I think than just the assistant at the moment, but certainly we will, we're aware of it as an issue,
Councillor Warrell.
yes, I excuse me, have a bit of a cough today, organisations like the NCVO, for example, do have advisers in place that can guide them towards funding opportunities, and one that springs to mind already here is the building communities fund it might be useful to CGI guide this particular project in its own right towards them because this fits very much within their remit as well.
yeah yeah, there's also.
it is also a group based in Battersea, it's got a five word name that escapes me right now, but they're working very closely with the women's network and their expertise is in capacity building for voluntary sector organisations so helping them to decide on their legal formats on their fundraising activities and it's so again that's an organisation I can put Mr Murdoch in touch with but they they're brilliant and they have a lot of connections across the borough they've worked, citizens advice and other large organisations so that's a good question.
thank you, Councillor Hamilton, yeah, you've raised a good question, so there are wider issues, as Mr Evans saying, but maybe some of the specifics, hopefully there'll be a successful project and be thinking about what happens after terms of the NBA you need to think with. It is one isn't Mr Evans's, it's one of these ongoing issues that we have and it varies from sector to sector and and in the case of a police network in particular, because this is the I know quite well, I mean something like advice sector is really difficult. Councillor Gilbert, annoyances of non legal advice, as in any sort of that kind of areas, is very difficult to come out to
and so it is a case of not as we as we do so we constantly scour the
to fundraising opportunities. There are some funds just coming out in terms of cost of living, but that's know what there will be available in a year's time within the funding centre got constantly changes, but we do try and pinpoint no, but because we do have not limited resources in borough where where we there are no organisations like NCVO and one or two others, just because there's much fewer than they were before there are some some really good stuff online organisations which we should get some funding support from, and we point people towards those with particular further free to pursue reduced what we can to pinpoint people to get some support and and sometimes there are
through the economics of our officers, sometimes as mentoring support comes up as well, which is available for for charities and and others and and social enterprises as well.
I want Councillor Hamilton, thank you, my thinking is evolving as the the recent Council, but might there be essentially some scope just as whilst we're having this discussion about sustainability?
one of these charities and the operations that they have to think about some kind of event, that we may be able to pull together, perhaps supported by officers, perhaps supported by some of these organisations that Councillor Gilbert mentioned where we could actually know offer some of those kind of practical tips and advice that something potentially the Council could facilitate. I'll just leave before there, but I think it may be a useful exercise. Mr Evans, do you want to comment
I mean, I think, just need to leave that with us, really I mean we're always looking at ways of trying to spoil and or support the sector and, as you know, we've we've invested and resources into that over the past year so,
and we do meet the funder events as well around the the the grant grant fund, so it could be that we look to just provide some signpost in as part of that, but yeah leave with us is a good point,
and Councillor Gruen, we want this Chamber, for instance, absolutely open and go for the opportunity to sue so that they've got a door to go to, rather than having to knock on the council's door, because they want to be independent, I'll just write,
you sound like you've got a committee headed John Dow n, run this event, but I'm very grateful.
good so item 5.
agreed the officers' recommendation on allies Network, OK, thank you.
as it was six fast London.
thanks to you.
switch off cell phone, you'll be gone so item, 6, fast London, so it's a youth provision and on the Pattemore estate services, for funding the their weekly community programme, and just put or support young people in D and G in the in the programme go for Eid and we recommend a grant of
16,000 pounds for it, with some good conditions. I think particularly we looked at this one because of the we, the vulnerability of the young people, the the fast work with on complex day when they get very, very complex needs are, and actually a very, very small charity and no, and indeed to do a lot and and although they work with young people we actually know that they also did through that work do work with a lot of the families as well.
yes, Councillor Butler.
thank you, yes, it's. This is a a great application and pleased to see that it's some, it's it's going through. I'm interested on about the provision of food and I noticed under recommendations you have actually put provide more information about the food and refreshments that will be on offer, and I think the one that really worried me was it says that some of these some of these will include food and Don obviously you will know that on four or young people, in these circumstances, it can't be sometimes that there'll be food, they they need to know that when they go into that activity, that there will always be food or there won't be food because sourcing food at the moment for young people in this situation, as we know, that's why we're giving these grants is on really higher amounts, so it can't be sometimes and did you have that conversation with them and I I haven't done so yet and certainly one will will have with them. They'll know them quite well.
come from from Old, and I know that you know so I know when I've been done some club nights, nor does it just usually fit there and whether they mentioned I know they do some one-to-one stuff as well. We should really be expected with delight that I will get some clarification from before we feel we are worthy Grant 0. Thank you very much. Yes, and perhaps more than sandwiches as well. Yeah, thank you, yeah, Councillor Warrell, thank you. This is one of the projects in my own backyard, so to speak, as the Local Councillor for Shakespeare in Queenstown. I think this is a type of project where we can demonstrate the interaction with other things that are actually happening in the area. I meet. Yvonne car, for example, has a number of projects working out of it. We've got St George's to include recycling and food growth and and everything else, so I think in the feedback may be that they come the to this project, as it would be useful for them to demonstrate their relationship with the other food projects in the area, and support projects. Going back to Councillor Bowes was point of view. There was quite a lot happening there in terms of food provision
but I don't think it really clearly comes out the relationship between this and the others, and maybe just as the recommendations when they're doing, the report backs and they could comment and how the vet you worked with in partnership with the other with the other organisations in the area so OK, yes, we know exactly how good Mrs. Graham Councillor Morris Graham thank you Chair I am looking at the two are education and employment and support sessions and also our behavioural problems.
how how you think that they are going to time with you know our Council, in in that in that department?
so that we can do they can draw on the skills of the council to give them more.
and experiences yeah, I mean I.
I know that the delete youth worker is called into a lot of a lot of meet meetings with children's services in terms of in terms of some one-to-one referrals and where his family supports, so there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between between the youth workers and children's services with this project and has done for some time and and I think equally with the with the older young pupil who is due to come into.
a into contact with they have because of their facility, the of all do they have links with with the work match team as well, and on probation and and others, and when they have been involved in because of where they are on right on top of a
it's on the borough boundary with Lamberth, though there has been issues and have been very supportive, basically there's been some some intrusive of gang gang violence and things like that before, so the the tide and quite a lot with with the council services in different teams, so it certainly is a benefit to me because the the the the council officers know sometimes will put Thomas, not individual cases, annoying of individuals and the youth workers know them very well, so this is very much a two-way process.
OK, Councillor Romeo, I, I've got great confidence in lifelong learning and that is our areas, schools were young people if they're feeling a lack of confidence and stuff like that can go on courses I I welcome what you're saying, but I hope that that would be also considered in this.
in this application.
to Boswell yeah, I don't know if it's also helpful to say that obviously it says most sessions will take place at the Yvonne Carr Community Centre, and I think that's where we got the first hub.
yes, the new hub so.
the the first hub is there, and the point of those hubs is that a lot of the services that you're talking about, Councillor Graham on, are provided or are really really wide range from sexual health through to you know, counselling, domestic aunts, everything that's the idea of the hubs on the act, everything is is one place, it's based on the shortstop model, but obviously Sure Start was for up to five. This is going up to 19 on, so we're trying out, we hope we'll have these hubs will be expanded and there'll be one in Roehampton and one in Tooting as well. So lifelong learning is definitely there as well
let me support what you say, and the most important thing is actually they will have to come to the hub rather than they go to, because they won't go, so that is welcome, think we are in agreement, we agreement with the recommendation yeah, I should've said at the beginning I think when if Members are agreeing and recommendations I'm assuming you're accepting the conditions the officers suggested unless you say otherwise okay.
that six or seven home community cafes CEC, Mr Mail, yes, sir, so one community cafe and recommend a grant of 11,000 pounds.
against this are a continuation and a slight expansion foreign to the increase in the numbers of pupils that there are that they're saying no, I've from last year.
that any questions or comments on this.
Councillor Gilbert wanted to ask about how the mothers with postnatal mental health needs will be reached. I think that's a particularly tricky cohort maybe to reach, although maybe that's already been given some thought and just wondering whether there's something the Council can support with there in terms of reaching out to the health trusts or working with the Cabinet Member for Health in just just, I think that's such a difficult period and you might if you have those mental health needs, you might not be looking outward for something new, so how do we make sure we capture those those very vulnerable? Women thanks
I know that this is a particular project which the picked up themselves and part of one of the things that the home community Pakistan over the last couple of years is actually.
being able to tie in quite a lot with other services and we have identified a need, then phoned that support, so it's a very when you go to Dundee and first of all it's very sociable and that's the nature of the one pupil to hang around, so they can get that support as long as I make my come in for food or something, but so they're very conscious of how they've developed a service with a source of something like that, we should have da da da picked up themselves that the phone didn't need either through noted t. I am no. Health workers are a ICP, so it's something that actually we were found actually the nor the citizens advice and other things. We'd have gotten bedded there so that there seemed to be very good at doing that themselves. Certainly, I've not had any contact with them recently about how the of how the butler attend, but it's something that I, I get the impression from them that they've developed quite well themselves
were you to say?
Councillor Burgess, yeah, thank you Chair, Mr Murdoch, just a quick one, and I fully support the application I just wanted to make sure the because you know hear something about this, as I was looking more about the financial history and the fact that the applicants made a small loss or you are you happy that this organisation is gonna be financial financially viable going forward and then we're not gonna award monitor?
an organisation that's not gonna be around for much longer.
no, we we were quite happy with that, we have looked through it with all the applications we've looked through all of the financial history over the years and we have, and because this is not the only application, whether that's the case and we've looked back as to the reasons why and satisfied ourselves that we're we're happy that organisations are financially and I shall put where we will do it doesn't certainly one or two, we've got a few issues with some of the smaller resources, but generally we've wood we've looked at them all in that view, given members' feedback over the last meeting
yeah, thank you very much, at number 7, so we're on to number 8 Jags' Foundation.
no, sorry, yeah, I suppose television and number 8.
number 8, jags sorry, the screen behind just Joe is gonna, switch itself off.
misjudged Foundation, this is a recommendation for 19,000 pounds and this is a continuation of a poor job we should be funded through the 1 spaces last year is quite unique and now to delivering food on a Sunday on a on a door-to-door service and additional to that the the add in or a befriending element no, it's of the package of the
to deliver volunteers pick-up comments or on the doorstep from clients, then they can feed that back into the into the office and so that the office, then you know keeps and keeps in telephone contact with the other clients during the weekend issues we pick up and I shall watch very effectively last week last year and were fully supportive.
Councillor were just a question to be bundled bit pedantic, it's in terms of the food supplies and applies to this and other food related home-delivered projects are you looking at because we are following a green agenda in making sure that we are sustainable?
in terms of the disposals that are being used as it built in that they are to use recycled materials, not single-use plastics, for example, because I know from home delivery services if you quite often it's the knives and forks that are delivered maybe and actually go in the bin and they can't be recycled in any way, so I'm just wondering, do you build in that as a criteria and this and if not could I recommend the tax-shy Bilton as a criteria and I can say no we haven't built in just one.
but the sound of the song we can, we can look to do it and we can maybe have a word so we can get them to working with you, the offline.
any other comments, committee and agreement yeah, thank you very much.
9 J C T Management.
there's a juicy plot to management, this was again, another suburb delivered two hot food parcels to 40 families a week and but it's not recommended it's a very small organisation which seems to have got it gets got set up during covered and then closed down again.
I do have a correction to make in the in commentary under the financial history of of of the organisation which says that the number or umbrella or organisation for drawings were both sudden, we've done a bit more homework on now and found out that not to be the case and we're all part of the point that did find was that actually they did received food from dawns during during that early COVID year so it's good so there's no doubt at all because we do know that the Dawn's local action group and is trying to say to self opposite charity and is independent from yeah.
UFC Wimbledon, and so it is a bit of confusion, debit, but we thought we'd gone to the bottom of that, but unfortunately it's not just not one that we recommend to members.
comments.
in in agreement, okay.
number 10.
a number 10 said junction delete which you said it did the mentoring development of young people through football, essentially Prasad was a football project and it didn't seem to be any sort of relation a house connected to cost of living and so it is not recommended Councillor Hamilton, thank you Chair in the last last meeting I forgive me I call on the details of the application, but it was it showed.
such poor corporate governance that we,
if if she made a few comments to suggest that officers should be able to reject some applications out of hand and not move them to the full committee session, if they really are completely wrong from a corporate governance perspective, I just notice on on this report. It does mention that they've not supplied their annual Councillor late, filing on the Charity Commission website, and it's just a sort of broader question to both officers and the committee that might it not be a good idea in the case of some of these applications, that, where there are such manifest failings in terms of their governance, that we basically just give them a
an answer straight away, saying you're not gonna be compatible, we're not gonna be able to lend and just to make sure that you don't have to put up with this officer time into producing these reports, and it gives them also the kick that they might need to remedy the corporate governance issues rather than bringing the report to committee and us having to reject it.
add up and enter.
no surprise to me this to refer to the
guidance on the ones of grant funding, as you know, obviously I mean what we'd see in Vienna is that.
if organisations have more than two years outstanding reports late for work with a child commissioners, then that then they're ineligible, we know that sometimes you know.
the no accounts questionnaire or the forget things, so we do have that the that that built in with organisations that no so we can do that but that that sort of thing we have built in at the moment so there's some something there with members snobbish to build in more limestone and we can look at that but obviously I mean I think what we're trying to do is to bring things to yourselves is to be transparent with the organisations that there is some scrutiny not for yourselves over it.
OK, we're agreed not not to recommend were the recommendation not not to re agree the request for the budget, OK number 11 and number 11 said Catherine no settlement, and this is to approve or recommend funding for 19,461 and, and this is to a continuation of their lunch club for the elderly,
last year we now supported one day through the one grants fund, and this request is just support two days, noting that there's been this year there's been a 27 increase in demand over and over the past year, and so we we recommend this to members.
Councillor Warrell.
J I'm just like technicality, Cayless, is actually based in St Mary's and a Betsy park.
I think you know, but can I just ask them what the fee is for the hot lunches, if you happen to know, I'm just interested, because other organisations are offering several similar services, so just at the bottom of page 51 it says a small below cost fee is requested from those who can afford it and I it wasn't stated and I don't know,
thank you, maybe I'll ask them directly, thank you,
Councillor Hedges, thank you, Chair, Mr Murdoch, apologies if I've asked you this before, but is there a limit on the amount of grant that we can award a particular organisation, I say that because Katherine Lowe settlement seems to come up every single time, thank you.
the answer is no, and I will refer to that I know it's sovereign and early years are the ones of grant fund killers da da gonna player anytime, it's all, I think you saw him in the last couple of years when they've had to fight off a dedicated fundraiser now is on the ball and didn't apply but no descended as well when we took any cap on on it because there's for as long as it's for different projects then there perhaps you take them forward.
didn't raise something similar, a lot, but they also worked with lots of different age groups, stone barn and disability groups and mental health and older people. Yeah, Councillor Gilbert, yes, I was just going to say that I think I think we're so lucky to have Keolis, and actually their model is one that lots of other parts of the borough look towards because it it's that sort of home with multifaceted, different projects, and you know that a bit like what Councillor Buswell was saying earlier really works, because once you've got people in the building and you can show them other things that are happening, that works really well, whereas reaching people is sometimes the hardest thing, so yeah, I think I think we're following that careless model is something that is quite envied by lots of other organisations who want to be able to offer the various skill sets at that that they have
this is a bit like you're saying, Councillor, Amber, shoots across all the different age groups and across lots of different needs, thank you.
we are in agreement with the officers' recommendation and thank you thank you committee.
number 12, living truth and, yes, loving truth.
this is a key part, part continuation of the mountain body programme for last year and an extension to into just some work done in Tooting and, but unfortunately it's not recommended, we didn't feel in terms of the walk down in Tooting they provided enough detail in terms of need or who they were working with and actually we do know that there are some other projects not doing that here as well.
add to this openness one that I think it is an application I can work with them on.
Councillor Walk, can I just clarify that if there is a mistake in this form, I'm looking at the unrestricted reserves and it's his minus 397.
does that mean that they are in overdraft when this was submitted or were, and you'll recognise, that last time round, I got, I picked up on reserve issues, quite a lot, and other and other applications, so true to form. I should pick up on this one as well, but yeah, if you could just clarify that yeah, you say
yes as one, I was trying to talk to them today, so I in the deal that is the the the accounts represent in that particular year. They did make a small surplus, but in the previous year did made a slight loss, so I'm sorry on balance, thunder on showing indeed accounts is that there was overall as a slight loss and the rcsc, so the information I have they use mine if members don't know that when organisations are see, I see very, very small. They use some cold micro entity accounts which don't show you very much information at all no, and I have been trying to to took the time to talk to him because because that that's one of the issues and I I wish to talk to him about him as as other things, because it will affect not just not applying to this grant but that other funders as well, so I can I can try and work with them but
but when I see a CA that are trying to get themselves into surplus, that stocks are turned off to other ideas trying to do.
yeah, I'm sorry that I thought this was really interesting application.
particularly sensitive to different ethnic minority communities in terms of diet and culture, and an MA Amanda bodies at the site sounded good, so anyway, I'm sure we can encourage them to.
to do the further work in Tooting, look, look, look at the needs and see the organisations they might work with, and it might come back in the next round, or are we agreed will reject this round like?
and if so, updating your application 13 St Anne's Church.
we will meet the recommendation for two and a half thousand pounds, and I know I'll I'll explain this one a little bit more detail because it's
so this is a new applicant where issues which came to us and as soon as we have been running a number of community projects over the last year themselves to run a weekly coffee morning and a food pantry alongside and then a bi-monthly community meals in some some events that are in their chai de small church hall and other activities that are in their church you can imagine when you look at their budget.
printer, asking for note some nearly 12,000 pounds for heating yeah, I know that some of the activity is actually taking us Church.
the the the application was revised down today, but actually still feel that the the the it looks like the community activities which they offer no due support, nor a number of no word of the vulnerable people who do they explained that a paper, but some of their master's a bit not unclear and and officers want to want to encourage them.
but knowing that they can come back in December for added no with a bit more detail, they wanted, the the recommendation at this stage is to to encourage them by offering them a grant of two and a half thousand pounds.
with a view to coming back in December to some more detail to flesh out some of the some of the detail, particularly on just heating and try to work out, but I know it is a bit more accurate because we couldn't quite work out the sums even I was trying to do it today as well and it's just not no, although they've revised it down is not it is not clear and despite also getting value for money one can imagine not.
the the whole seems to be quite small, can only accommodate so many people, so you know to do the some of the activities in the church, how you can imagine a large church hall and heating that as well, so it is, we're trying to balance out the different bits well and I think going back to what I was saying, the beginning of the meeting or the meeting that no Benenson unsold or don't want. Other towns had very few community activities round this area, and that's one of the reasons we want to try to encourage it, and so it is trying to balance these things out in the moment. Chair
or thank you.
at this particularly interesting application, I think I would like the Committee to relook at it and actually increase the amount to actually given to the
to the organisation, I understand the arguments about activities in the church and the difficulty, differentiation between heating, the church as a whole and then A and L and part of a church, and how you can say that corner can be heated and of course can't be heated within the grant.
and I appreciate that you're gonna go back and work with the organisation, but more to be able to differentiate that. However, there are parts of this grant where I think where we can support some of the work that's been doing so I'm looking at the coffee morning the community meals, food hygiene, training and Sunday advertising which supports and the activities and building the resource base in order to be able to actually take this forward and supporting the organisation. That's been that's been done been being provided. I'd done a great quick calculation and it comes to 4,530 for those sort of elements, and I'd like to propose back to the committee that we actually fund that section of that. Whilst work is being done on the heating element and the other end the rest of the of the application, and we differentiate how how how that said she pans out, but I think that the first element that I'm asking for the money for actually provides a good base to move forward for the organisation from the activities that are that they're doing.
thank you, Councillor Wirral, would Members like to comment yeah Councillor Graham.
I listened to Councillor Warrell, but I note in the whatever you call it the assessment summary that the church may reapply in December if costs can be further detail, drawing upon concrete primary evidence to underpin rationale, so I feel that they are you that they're on it and you you've got your your advising the minutes are in it's up to them.
because you know it was to stick with the current recommendation I I would.
I just wanted to.
what do all the members of the committee feel we've got to two suggestions on the table?
Councillor Gilbert, I'm very happy to support the the new proposal, I think I think that model well first of all pick up on Mr. Murdoch's points about there being not very many projects in that area, but that was one of the first that I had to and the fact that this has already established and has 30 people attending regularly.
I am particularly attracted by the drop-off and pick-up service because there are there are so many isolated people without transport who, I think could really benefit from that, having seen how well that that works for regenerate rise and what what that does for people that they get that that highlight of their day and that healthy food, so I think the way that I think you'll probably taking the second third fourth and fifth line items that sounds I think very reasonable and it gives.
it's the point in time we're at in the year, you know, December is already a month away, that's when people's heating and other costs have already gone up, even that increment more.
I think the concerns that we have are really about that first line item, and therefore we could quite easily decouple that from from the application to the rest of the application so and because it's not a new organisation, it's got some track record, I think that could be very successful and that's a good basis then to reassess another application in December thanks to the grant, can I just see what other members of the committee think of, but no doubt,
we will give you a chance to come back Councillor Bob, yes, I'd before Councillor Rural, I'll put full forward this proposal and I wanted to say thank you so much for trying so hard with this project you can see it rings out in everything that's written, you obviously really bent over backwards to help because you could see the value here but not able to give the full grant and yeah I'd I I know this area and I know it is on very, very short of projects like this and I too would support on Councillor world's suggestion
CA Councillor Graham, did you want to come back and then I think we just meet Chairman, take a bow, I I know some doubts and it's a brilliant church and it does an awful lot in the community, and the thing I do love is the older people helping them to orbit, operate digital devices and stuff like that to give them the skills to be independent. I'm listening to the wisdom of our senior councillors, who have great experience, and they listened to what you are all saying, and I just feel that there may be more benefit waiting until December, which will actually enrich what what is trying to be proposed
so I mean I, I support what is here now, but I am sure that the senior officers would actually work with them with good proposal which will get to where everybody wants thinking, I think, is how we move it forward.
Councillor Hedges, yeah, do you want to say something on that, no, I I do agree, I see where Councillor Graham is coming from, my only concern is if
if we don't award that extra amount now we might end up needing to do it.
ad hoc, so rather than us, go through that process, it might be better to award it now.
I think I think there's a majority view that we suggesting we award 4,530 pounds we need to come back in relation to the heating costs.
in in the next round is is that committee in agreement with that yeah, thank you.
sir Item, 14, proud to connect Mr Murdoch, thank you Chair, and so this is a recommendation for 14,585 and to add to support a power to connect and in helping residents across the borough and not.
with the with for digital droppings in Putney, Roehampton, Tooting and Battersea sorry and, and this is complimentary, members will remember that the the power to connect to are awarded grant through the Borough of Sanctuary Fund n, in the last round and and and I think there was 124 as well, so that businesses can but will check, but against both no other other funds which have gotten. We can assure you that this is. This is complimentary to the work and trying to solve, reach out across across the borough, work with the DA working in different basis and and also one of the things that we've not won are the conditions that were put in is actually trying to connect them up with the other community spaces across the Borough as well, so that we're trying to make sure we knew we were getting some full advantage from them.
committee in agreement yeah, thank you very much.
regenerate 150 and regenerate Danny Ashburton towards a recommendation for 18,696, and this is very much to support their particularly their cooking workshops, which have been key, which we'd helped to fund last year in the one space, isn't actually, I've really grown to be quite a large part of their project and done, or what members were or what what Councillor Wadsworth said earlier about? Young people in food actually found that this is really a sort of attracting young people and actually keeping them in, and helping them and and I and also what one of the things that we were conscious of also, that regenerate are also reaching out into working with young people in the autumn estate, as we also bring in Drag dragging people in
also, we know from the work that they do, that they also work with, as I say, very small food bank down in Ashburton as well, which recently worked with, so I'm and and I think, the additional benefit in terms of a thing that cost of living is that the takeaway food which they take away back to families as well no support supposed to five or so actually the squared-off no additional benefit from this project.
thank you very much and I think there's always to two key things that I try to look at, whether, if I look at the applications, one of the financial sustainability of a particular proposal, the second is whether it has a lasting impact and I think when you are teaching skills like this project does, I think the lasting benefits can be so profound for communities for individual health that I think it's a it's a great investments, I'm very glad to vote in favour.
enter, say something about the finances as well.
Councillor Gilbert,
but well if if there had been the case, and I'm glad it is in, I mean I, I struggle to think of any organisation that does quite as much so successfully to fundraise for itself, probably I don't know if you would see on on their sort of social media feed I mean they, they cycle the the hard way in lots of different directions around the world and they really really work hard to raise money themselves. So I'm really delighted to see this succeed. Thank you
I think Mr murder wanted to add something on the conditions, as that is that correct, yes, just a very small issue, we just want to just ensure that it is noted that we just want him to update their their safeguarding policy, that was the one that provided an old one and you see the update to every year so we just want to make sure that that's that's done.
we're in agreement yeah, thank you very much, that's 15, so it wants to 16.
support for Health yeah so support for healthcare, I see it's not recommended for a grant, so this is we're supposed to do requesting an award for the support of the traditional table-tennis default for the residents.
for those clients who come along to the the weekly top-up balancing classes at Battersea Sports Centre, and we, we did our ward at Granton following round 24 and won one of the things that wasn't clear was was this for the same people or as additional people and no one in terms of in terms of the usage no and so on, one of the things that we want to do given that we've given them a grant for around 24 hours go back to them and just get to seek clarification. No, no is it.
because the officer and a new activity does that mean that actually able to reach more and more people in there's everything they're trying to target.
Councillor Weir
just I I understand its reasons for turning this down and I agree, just as the recommendation in terms of partnership working, because this is one of the few organisations doing work with older LGBT people
that may be connecting them with quick ones with might be quite useful, who had tried to expand a lot more work doing around physical activities and includes an inclusion
have you got some contacts to pass on to Ms yes, actually I'm seeing them, I'm actually seeing them next week, so I'll put you in contact with them.
good good, I'm very keen on table tennis and badminton Councillor Graham, and in anytime will play on the court, but I think we're in agreement, we turn it down at this stage, yeah yeah.
17 Stone family Centre, yes, so this was it'll be provided or provide a food provision.
for the Herb breakfast club on Saturdays and a sub as a supperclub on Mondays and where work was unfortunately due or where officers are not to fulfil the be able to recommend it amendment. Members on note, for example, in the budget, had a gym worker. We couldn't quite work out exactly where they were that fitted and there's there's some inconsistencies in the bud in their budgeting. The we just couldn't get clear so again that we we know it was a very successful project last year, so we want to come back, know you have chosen to come back
we're in agreement with the recommendation, thank you.
18 S-W 15 women's network as Councillor Gilbert, do you want to say anything and then I think you will win, thank you, Chair, I'll just very briefly say, where the Azeri 15 Women's Network comes from, I think it's really
the result of a lot of the other work that and the Council has done in terms of capacity building in the Roehampton area.
because it, I would say, it really grew out of the public health funding that.
that was put into a project with citizens advice back in 2018 19, which then brought together people who wanted to help the community and that kept going all the way through COVID, unbelievably really much to its credit and to the credit of J-P who was the the community worker who kept that going so we we have,
one of our stated aims around domestic abuse and raising awareness and signposting, and so the people who meet through the network are, across early years, local schools, faith groups, it's multi-faith, multi, generational.
and I just want to also thank Mr Murdoch for all the support that has been given to the group in the past we have a civic award when it's more a knight, who is the Chair of the
yesterday, 15 Women's Network, Vicky Piggott, so anyone is going tomorrow, you'll see a short video about the work that the network does, so I very much hope that this application will be successful, but I'm not going to take part in in voting on it and I'll leave the room now, thank you very much.
3 Gilbert.
we will give you a shot shortly.
Mr Murdoch.
thank you, so yes, there'll be 15 women's networks or two, I so want to recommend a grant of 5,106 pounds with some conditions and are in addition to the the conditions noted on the papers or that there are two further ones, one is about encouraging the Management Committee to to consider registering with the Charity Commission given to the discharge procedure as well one,
organisations with an annual or without a regular annual income of over 5,000 to register, whether it's a one-off, they don't mind reference that was gonna be here in year, one and recognise that S-W 15 just good constituted at the beginning of this year, although the fact should be in operation since 2001, so it's about nor to helping them to build dot dot governance and also,
we just want to get them to cover or a real look at the adult safeguarding policy given the nature of the organisation they are, but were there in addition to English but those conditions, this is the support that the coffee mornings no throughout the throughout the year and PE and particularly vote so it's it's a women only group I'm on things had some advice and from other colleagues in the way we want to make sure that you know if it's recommended, who's just supported, that we actually state on the the the the community space directly that is a women's only group looking at given the nature of the work that they undertake.
Councillor Hegde, thank you, Chair, I was just gonna make a comment, actually any organisation that supports women of super suffered or domestic violence gets my vote, thank you.
yeah, we get Councillor Gilbert back.
there is a woman's a torch parade which men are invited to.
on the 23 of November that S-W 15 women's networker again says some of you may or may have may wish to be there.
so we've we've agreed item 18 Councillor Gill, but we're on to Item 19.
Ms Mr Murdoch, I thank you Chair, and so item 19 Sean clarification slightly out slightly different to some of the other applications referred and Sean subscription, I see, whereas started off from our a member from S-W 15 and and they just started it this year.
not providing are a community kitchen, I don't own the Portsmouth space and there's nothing else. Similar don't own that area, but given that the the the the governance of the organisation that's are too small to apply on their own, so what they can do, and this is we've done this before, so where are we, with with arts projects, and others, is actually added or faded and an organisation no de takes on board the needs of the the governance for them and NSW 15 have agreed to do that, given that they do have links and so but again, because it's so if we want to support it with a grant of 9,660 and with some conditions, so it does put all such split team in because they're quite small and some of that is linked to not some of them building up the governance, and again I would just add to the conditions which are noted on the papers that would no for them to to look at the constitution and building up their management committee and again nor no effort going to grow because it's a grant of nearly 10,000, nor the the again they look to registering the fit with it with the Charity Commission, Joseph, that are going to continue to grow that and we we've got officers in the in the area
who are supporting, you know, the the local group says, as Councillor Gilbert indicated one, and we can help, we can we can talk to those no different colleagues on the ground to help to build up the capacity that, but generally officers were supportive of this, this organisation, its application,
yeah
regeneration team are very much part of supporting this and there any other comments on were and are in agreement with the recommendation 19, thank you.
20, The Spire Centre, and this is the despair centres which is not recommended for an award and and actually the the scene, Commissioner, for A and L and adult social care who looks after some of this, this area of work of of homelessness and disadvantage is is it is keen to support, as it is keen to have a discussion with them.
there were there were yeah so as espoused Centre is a homeless charity which is based not just slightly outside the borough by a few hundred yards, and by about 20% of the repair of the clients do come from from Wandsworth, but there was some bitterness a bit general and proceeded to the commission of service is keen to is keen to have discussions with them.
we are we in agreement yeah, but we don't agree at this stage, thank you very much, and 21 Tooting community kitchen.
yesterday's officer's recommendation for a grant of 15,800 and its continuation funding for the applications winter loans project which they ran last year.
this is just to fund one one of the days we should the permission to be open.
questions or comments.
Councillor Boswell, I thought you might as the Tooting Councillor, yes, I wanted to say I am very pleased to see this application and an application from Tooting, and it does worry me that grit attitude and Councillor, I do know of a lot of organisations but somehow we're not reaching them or they're not.
are applying, and I'm wondering if I'm sure that you would do this anyway, but please do say to these organisations, especially when they get turned down, I think about contacting your Councillor, your local council and may well, you know, be able to help or link you up with other organisations on because that other one from Tooting showed that they didn't really know the area and one conversation with one of the councillors would have sorted that out and the application was not ready to go through.
so yeah, I just want to make that point really pleased to see something from Tooting the Tooting community kitchen, do wonderful work.
and I'd just like to see more and anything that as Councillors we can do to help.
it is a good point you make about Tooting, I just wonder it in your network in Tooting, and it may also extend into Bolam in terms of organisations that we may not be connecting with whether there's any discussions you might have with Mr Murdoch about that yeah, you've been mentioned I mean you know if if if Members know of organisations who are doing things and by almost just drop me a note and I mean I can let you know no, are we either myself or any of other colleagues I will be having discussions or and if not, then you know if you've got contact details and weren't happy to take them from you.
we're happy to agree number 21, over okay, 22 urban studio sessions.
sorry, this is not recommended, and it's basically to provide art and up and sports centres for children and and and Doddington the the DMCA against it wonder, as I say, not overlap slightly with that with an earlier organisation at an earlier application, but really I thought there was there was no connection to cost of living in and in and in any way with the application.
I agree with the recommend.
3 last one once with carers Centre once with care centres, and this is our recommendation 4 and 5,145 as.
one is to support their there are weekly sub or the weekly supperclub, which is an ongoing event and
just to let you know, I'm sure I did some homework, no, it wasn't extension or or was it the current site actually there? The venue can only host 20 people, which is that increases their current take-up, so it is the the the. The application is actually supporting the an existing project which is happening which fell within the scope of the fund rather than an extension. Yeah Councillor Hamilton,
thank you very much very happy to support this, particularly as a bellum councillor, just observation, I I, quite like the fact that this report also included some of their own benchmarking that they've done amongst those who use the service, so it's actually very good to see the feedback there obviously good to know the sample sizes but and frankly to see this kind of feedback and an evaluation about services that those asking for grants do receive would be very, very useful and it's clear that a very popular scheme, so please thank the providing that and it'll be great to see it in other applications too.
just I just wanted to comment. It is easier, fairness, well established ongoing organisation, to do that it's harder for a new startup to do that immediately, but Councillor Graham, you wanted to come in there to
what I am very pleased about, I mean it's wonderful carers, really need caring for, and I'm very pleased in the condition that the applicant explores signposting
and are hosting other support services so they can help them get the value of what they deserve.
South supported
we were all in agreement with 23.
we come to the end of the agenda.
thank you very much committee.
sir Becky Hickey from Democratic Services and and Chris sorry Kelly, but thanks for thank you for being here, you didn't have speaking parts, Clorinda Shank, and she Moore works, mostly coriander, I gather enrichment, but you help because of the volume of applications on this one and if Mr Murdoch didn't know the answer he was going to refer to you but,
thank thank you for being with us, thank you very much, Mr. Murdoch, and all your staff, you have one or two people that couldn't be here, but what will you pass on thanks to them because I know this is being done very speedily, thank you very much.
yeah, all of it