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 2007/08 allow for an increase of between 2.5 and 3.2% 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 First New Forest

2.1 Community First New Forest has been advised by New Forest District Council that it is to receive a £1,500 rise in its rental costs. The County Council is working closely with this volunteer service and it is recommended their contribution be increased by this amount on a recurring basis.

3 Budget Position

3.1 The annual grants being recommended below for approval in 2007/08 is £1,150,323 and can be accommodated within the budget.

3.2 These grants, if awarded, would support all of the County Council's Corporate Strategy priorities: Hampshire safer & more secure for all, Maximising wellbeing and Enhancing our quality of place.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That grants/subscriptions for 2007/08 be awarded to the voluntary organisations and other bodies shown in this report in the sums indicated.

OR

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

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 and has been supported by Hampshire County Council since 1992. 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 and seeks to ensure that new developments complement the old in this ancient City.

(12) The National Trust (awarded 1998)

The National Trust provides valuable support to the County Council 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 a sum of money to help voluntary organisations towards the cost of using the Great Hall for their functions.