Meeting documents

WDC Decisions Made - Housing
Tuesday, 21st December, 2004

Decisions Made - Housing 2004/05, Sch 26 No 52 - 21 Dec 2004 - Annual Revenue Grants 2005-06 (Housing)

 

Reference Number
Schedule 26 – 52/2004

WYCOMBE DISTRICT COUNCIL

 
 

Decision taken by a Member

Portfolio:  Housing

 

The Member has taken the following decision.

The decision will take effect on Tuesday 21 December 2004.

Title

Annual Revenue Grants 2005/06 (Housing)

Decision Taken

Allocation of awards in accordance with the schedule set out below:

( * indicates that the 2004/05 grant has been inflation proofed only in accordance with Cabinet policy )
 

Applicants

2004/05

Awards

2005/06

Requests

Cabinet Member’s Decision

Key Comments

HW & District Citizens Advice Bureau – (Housing Benefit)

6174

6174

6174

Subject to this funding being identified from elsewhere in the Housing Services approved budgets

Oxford Lane Almshouses (Brinkhurst Trust)

0

700

0

Application considered weak against two Policy criterion

Padstones South Bucks Young Homeless Action Group

15435

15667

15667

*

Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme

41375

43651

41996

*

Wycombe Women’s Aid

124982

130800

126857

*   Key Decision as this award exceeds £100,000

Youth Enquiry Service – Accommodation Project

17442

17826

17704

*

 

 

 

 

 

TOTALS

205408

214818

208398

 

 

Portfolio’s budget for Assistance to Voluntary Bodies in 2005/06    -    £199,800

Date of Publication

Monday 13 December 2004

Reasons for Decision

Contribution towards the costs of selected organisations operating within the District for the benefit of local residents.

Consultation Undertaken

Widespread consultation has taken place in relation to the Annual Revenue Grant process as part of the Best Value Review.  A number of organisations have been made comments about style of the current application form and many of the improvements suggested were incorporated in the 2005/06 process, most notably extending the availability of an electronic Application Form upon request.

Your Questions and Views
 

If you have any views on this decision that you would like the Member to consider or if you wish to object to the decision, please inform Howard Taylor.  This can be done by telephone (01494) 421875 or e-mail howard_taylor@wycombe.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF DECISION MADE

Subject:

Annual Revenue Grants 2005/06

Decision:

Allocation of awards in accordance with the schedule set out below.

Reasons for Decision:

Contribution towards the costs of selected organisations operating within the District for the benefit of local residents.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted and any dispensation granted by the Standards Committee.

None

Alternative Options considered and rejected:

None

HOUSING PORTFOLIO – DECISIONS

( * indicates that the 2004/05 grant has been inflation proofed only in accordance with Cabinet policy)
 

Applicants

2004/05

Awards

2005/06

Requests

Cabinet Member’s Decision

Key Comments

HW & District Citizens Advice Bureau – (Housing Benefit)

6174

6174

6174

Subject to this funding being identified from elsewhere in the Housing Services approved budgets

Oxford Lane Almshouses (Brinkhurst Trust)

0

700

0

Application considered weak against two Policy criterion

Padstones South Bucks Young Homeless Action Group

15435

15667

15667

*

Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme

41375

43651

41996

*

Wycombe Women’s Aid

124982

130800

126857

*   Key Decision as this award exceeds £100,000

Youth Enquiry Service – Accommodation Project

17442

17826

17704

*

 

 

 

 

 

TOTALS

205408

214818

208398

 

 

Portfolio’s budget for Assistance to Voluntary Bodies in 2005/06     -     £199,800

 

 

 

WYCOMBE DISTRICT COUNCIL

DETAILED REPORT IN RESPECT OF AN EXECUTIVE DECISION BY
CABINET MEMBER OR KEY DECISION TO BE TAKEN BY AN OFFICER

 

Portfolio:      Housing

Cabinet Member:     Councillor David Carroll

Officer (if key decision to be taken by officer)      

Subject of Report:      Annual Revenue Grant Allocations – 2005/06

Ward(s) Affected:      All

Key Decision?     Yes/No     Yes – one only

DECISION

Allocation of awards in accordance with the schedule set out in this report.

REASONS FOR DECISION

Contribution toward the costs of selected voluntary organisations operating within the District for the benefit of local residents

Executive Summary

1.

In September 2004 local voluntary organisations were invited to submit applications for Annual Revenue Grant Support for 2005/06.  Each application was required to provide a range of information including some on Community Safety, Equalities, Best Value, Financial Reserves and community / service benefits.  Specialist officers working in each of these areas have assessed each application following which the Cabinet Member determined the application.

Policy/Strategic Plan Implications

2.

Each organisation seeking a grant was required to indicate which areas of the Council’s Community Plan its work supported.

Background

3.

The Application Form was further reviewed before the 2005/06 application process commenced.  At the request of some applicants, an electronic version of the Form was made available.  The Cabinet has previously determined that the allowance for inflation since 2004/05 will be 1.5%.

The Issues

4.

The “Assistance to the Voluntary Sector” service was subject to a Best Value Review in 2002/03 and relevant service improvements agreed at that time have been incorporated into the Annual Revenue Grant process for the past two years.

Consultation

5.

Widespread consultation has taken place in relation to the Annual Revenue Grant process as part of the Best Value Review. (see above)  A number of organisations have made comments about style of the current application form and many of the improvements suggested were incorporated in the 2005/06 process, most notably extending the availability of an electronic Application Form upon request.

Options

6.

The options available to Cabinet Members in determining all applications are:-

i)

Grant for the full amount requested,

ii)

Grant for part of the amount requested, or

iii)

Award no grant at all.

Financial and Legal Implications

7.

The Head of Financial Services confirms that the proposed awards as set out in this report can be met from within the proposed draft 2005/06 Revenue Estimates.

Assistance for voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness is authorised by Sections 180 and 181 of the Housing Act 1996.  Other applications will be authorised under Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000.

Other Implications

8.

None

Conclusions

9.

In the light of the evaluation process undertaken in respect of each application, the applicant’s available financial reserves and the detailed consideration by the Cabinet Member, the proposed awards as set out should be made.  The process in future will be enhanced through;

i)     the improvements identified within the Best Value Review Service Improvement Plan, and

     ii)     a wide-ranging review of the current Annual Revenue Grant Scheme which will be undertaken during 2005 for implementation in the 2006/07 financial year.  This review will be carried out in accordance with the principles of the Voluntary Sector Compact 2004, to which this Council is a signatory, and also the Voluntary Sector Funding Code of Practice 2005.

 

Author:     Howard Taylor (01494 421875)

Contact:      Nick Lamport (01494 421603)

 

Background Papers

Application form and supporting information submitted by each organisation held centrally within the Community and Housing Directorate