Contact: Louise Pickford - Ext: 7355: e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The undermentioned organisations receive annual grants/subscriptions from the Policy and Resources budget which are subject to yearly review. For those umbrella type organisations the amounts recommended for 2006/07 allow for an increase of between 2.5 and 3.9% for inflation, in accordance with national recommended scales/or corporate assumptions. Where the grants are not related to any specific level of service, no increase has been made for inflation.

2 Community Action, Hampshire

2.1 Previously, Hampshire County Council paid Community Action, Hampshire's (CAH)'s wages and then CAH repaid this after the year end. This exposed the County Council to an unacceptable risk of bad debt. CAH agreed to move to monthly direct debits on the basis that the County Council would compensate CAH for the loss of interest they will incur from the new arrangement. An adjustment has been made to the budget from interest on balances to reflect the resulting improvement in cashflow. This sum will be awarded on a recurring basis.

3 Localis

3.1 The County Council joined this organisation in 2004. The purpose of Localis is to act as an `independent think tank' whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas which will foster a free society based on strong communities, personal freedom, limited government, national self-confidence and an enterprise culture.

3.2 Payment for the first year was at a discount rate of £10,840 which last year increased to £12,933.

3.3 Since joining, the County Council has received limited benefit and it is therefore recommended that no further payment be made.

4 Budget Position

4.1 The annual grants being recommended below for approval in 2006/07 is £1,111,386 and can be accommodated within the budget. These grants would support Aims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy by Maximising life opportunities, Stewardship of the Environment, Achieving economic prosperity, Building strong and safe communities and Improving services.

Further information concerning the above organisations is attached as an Appendix to this report.

RECOMMENDATION:

That grants/subscriptions for 2006/07 be awarded to the voluntary organisations and other bodies shown in this report in the sums indicated.

Section 100 D - 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.

APPENDIX

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR POLICY AND RESOURCES

BODIES IN RECEIPT OF ANNUAL GRANTS 2006/07

1& (2) Community Action, Hampshire (awarded 1974), District Councils of Community Service and Volunteer Bureaux

Councils of Community Service promote, assist and co-ordinate the activities of voluntary groups in their areas. Community Action, Hampshire acts as a forum for District CCS's and provides specialist support and services, particularly in the area of rural development. An annual workplan with Community Action, Hampshire defines outcomes and clarifies links with Social Services funding and services. County Council grants are towards costs of core activities of CCS's based on 1/3 of the National Association of Councils for Voluntary Services' recommended minimum budget for CCS's.

(3) Hampshire Citizens Advice Bureaux Consortium (awarded 1974)

The County Council assists Citizens Advice Bureaux in Hampshire through an annual grant to the Hampshire Citizens Advice Bureaux Consortium rather than supporting individual offices. The grant will be directed at training for Bureau staff, particularly welfare rights counsellors.

(4) Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils

This annual grant was included with the Hampshire Council of Community Service until 1994. The sum reflects all aspects of the Association's work, including training and accommodation.

(5) Victim Support (awarded 1991)

This organisation co-ordinates the efforts of District Victim Support Schemes. The annual contribution is part funding of a development officer responsible for ensuring consistency in provision of aid to victims, monitoring use of management and training resources, promotion of the recruitment of volunteers, etc, and to project the management committee's policy and standards.

(6) Winchester Cathedral Trust (awarded 1986)

In 1986, the Policy and Resources Committee agreed to make an annual contribution towards the continuing restoration of the fabric of the Cathedral.

(7) Relate, Winchester (awarded 2000)

This annual grant (previously awarded by Social Services) to Relate, Winchester was agreed to be reinstated towards their annual rental costs.

(8) Friends of Winchester Cathedral

The County Council is a longstanding member of the Friends of Winchester Cathedral.

(9) Winchester Help Centre

This sum is in support of a number of organisations which may incur additional running costs as a direct result of their use of part of the Help Centre.

(10) St Mary's Music Foundation (awarded 1992)

St Mary's Music Foundation was founded in 1991, supported by Hampshire County Council and this contribution is towards the cost of an organ scholarship.

(11) City of Winchester Trust (awarded 1998)

The Trust (formerly known as the Winchester Preservation Trust) encourages landscape planning, planting and retention of trees, in the ancient City and seeks to ensure that new developments complement the old.

(12) The National Trust (awarded 1998)

The National Trust provides valuable support to the County Council in furthering Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy "Stewardship of the Environment" by helping to provide protection to the natural and built heritage of the County. Officer meetings take place regularly with representatives of the Trust on a variety of issues. This grant contributes towards two Corporate memberships.

(13) Country Land and Business Association (awarded 1979)

The County Council has been a corporate member of the Country Land and Business Association since 1979. The publications and services provided by the Association are an important resource in relation to the management of the County Council's land holdings, particularly the County Farms Estate.

(14) Use of Great Hall (awarded 2000)

The County Council sets aside from its Policy and Resources "one-off" grants budget of £2,500 each year to voluntary organisations towards the cost of using the Great Hall for their functions.

(15) Localis (awarded 2004)

The County Council joined this organisation in 2004. The purpose of Localis is to act as an `independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas which will foster a free society based on strong communities, personal freedom, limited government, national self-confidence and an enterprise culture'.