Archived decisions

Contact: Paddy Hillary, Ext. 7391

1. Summary

1.1 This report brings Members up to date with the progress of the review of

support provided by the County Council for voluntary and community

organisations.

1.2 The report gives the outcomes of the challenge, compare, compete and consultation exercises undertaken as part of the review and draws some conclusions as to possible options for Members to consider more fully in the Options report in January.

1 Introduction

2.1 Members will recall that in July they received a report giving the scope of the review and detailing the actions to be undertaken to ensure that the principles of Best Value were considered in relation to the County Council's support for voluntary and community organisations.

2.2 Members will further recall that the review scope includes all support, both financial and though other means (such as accommodation, loan of equipment, professional services etc) but excludes specific service level agreements, contracts for purchase of service and grants to individuals.

2.3 Since July the review team has been carrying out a number of exercises, in line with the Best Value process, in order to establish how well the County Council's policy on supporting voluntary and community organisations is working and whether there are any improvements that can be made. The team has also been working in response to a review of grant giving in the County Council undertaken by the District Auditor in 2000 which made a number of recommendations for improvements in process.

2.4 At the same time as the Best Value review, the Compact Working Group, which was established to implement and monitor the Compact agreement signed between the County Council and the voluntary and community sector in September this year, has been working through a Funding Sub Group to develop a funding code of practice. The findings of this group will be taken into account in the final Options report and the outcomes of the Best Value review will be reflected in the final version of the Compact funding code of practice.

2 Review Process

2.1 In line with the County Council's Best Value guidance, the team identified a series of actions aimed at establishing current policy, measuring performance against the policy and involving other organisations in considering areas for improvement.

2.2 In particular, the team has compared the County Council's way of providing support for voluntary organisations with other support or grant giving organisations, examined whether there is any scope for competition, consulted users and other agencies and challenged the current policy and delivery methods.

2.2.1 Challenge
The team held two events to challenge the ways in which the County Council currently provides support for voluntary and community organisations. The first of these involved officers from the County Council whose responsibilities include the distribution of grants or close working with voluntary/community bodies. Members were also invited to this event. The second event involved a wide range of voluntary/community bodies, umbrella organisations such as Community Action Hampshire and the district CVs network, other local authorities, private sector and government agencies.

2.2.2 Compare
The team has collected data from other local authorities on the methods and amounts of grant support given. This has also included reviewing the outcomes of other Best Value reviews in other parts of the country and inspection reports from the Best Value Inspectorate.

2.2.3 Compete
This is a particularly difficult area for this review as it is not clear how a competitive element exists in the provision of support for voluntary/community bodies. However, as part of the other exercises described, the team has looked at options for `outsourcing' some of the support given either to umbrella organisations in the sector or through the current proposal to establish a Community Foundation for Hampshire. More details on this will be given in the full Options report which Members will receive in January.

2.2.4 Consult
The review team commission a tailored consultation from Lynne Miller Associates which involved in depth telephone interviews with 50 local organisations. This group were classified as either having received grants or other support, having applied and been unsuccessful, or never having received support from the County Council.

2.2.5 Evidence review
A review of evidence in support of the key issues and areas for improvement identified by the EFQM exercise undertaken by the team as a first step in the process, and reported to members in July, was also carried out. The key issues and areas for improvement were:

- corporate approach and policies
- the decision making process
- monitoring outcomes of support
- access and communications

This review of evidence, taken with the outcomes of the exercises described above, have helped to start drawing out some possible options for improvement for members to consider.

2.2.6 Option appraisal
The team is currently looking at the options which have been derived from the review process and evidence so that a full paper can be presented to members in January.

3 Areas for improvement

3.1 Members may be interested to have an early indication of the possible areas for improvement which are emerging from the process. These include:


- more consistency in the application process across the County Council

- more consistency and transparency of decision making and notification to
applicants

- widening access and information on support available and help with the
process for potential applicants

- involvement of voluntary and community bodies in creation of monitoring
regime


- developing additional support including provision of more advice and
guidance to bodies on topics such as employment law.

3.2 There are also some options for the County Council's overall approach to support for voluntary and community bodies which have been identified through the review. These include :

- development of more corporate processes to monitor grant giving and other
support across the County Council, including the creation of a central
database of applications and awards

- consideration of involvement in the proposed Community Foundation for
grant distribution, and looking at the role of voluntary sector umbrella
bodies

3.3 These options and areas for improvement are currently being appraised and costed and a full report will be brought to Members in January. In view of the sensitivities and importance of this area, members are asked to consider nominating representatives to participate in the options appraisal exercise.

Recommendation

That Members endorse the outcomes of the review so far and agree to accept a full Options report at their meeting in January and to nominate representatives to participate in the option appraisal exercise.

Background Information

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

File Local

Best Value review evidence files

Report by Lynne Miller Association