Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this paper is to seek approval of a recommendation to pay a grant of £9,000 to Hampshire Scouts from the Children's Services integrated grant programme. This decision was deferred at the previous Decision Day held on 21^st May 2009.

1.2. This paper sets out the reasons why this grant recommendation should now be approved and describes actions taken since the last meeting. For ease of reference, the relevant paragraph setting out the bid is reproduced below:-

Hampshire Scouts

Hampshire Scouts continue to offer a full activity programme across the county. The aim is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. Funding would support a variety of initiatives including a decision making programme and county based training opportunities for young people aged 14-18.

The main priorities of this project are: LAA5 (Improve the life chances of 16-19 year olds at risk of under achievement) LAA4 (Close the gap between the achievements and life chances of the vulnerable children and young people) LAA7 (Safeguarding children) CYP7 (Improve the well-being and health of all children and young people) CYP1 (Improve the well-being and health of all children and young people) CYP6 (Increase opportunities and improve outcomes for children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

A grant of £9000 is recommended.

2. Contextual information

2.1. Following the last Decision Day, a meeting was convened with the County Commissioner for Hampshire Scouts and this took place on 11^th June with the Director of Children's Services and officers. The meeting set out the whole context of the new integrated grants process and the mechanism intended to ensure that all grant funding is clearly linked to better outcomes for children and young people in Hampshire, as set out in the Children and Young People's Plan and the Local Area Agreement. The process is intended not only to provide better outcomes for the most vulnerable children, but also to ensure that those outcomes are explicitly stated and measurable. This is intended to make use of a very scarce and over-subscribed resource. Interim decisions are made by a multi-agency Scrutiny Panel which then makes recommendations to the Executive Member to ensure accountability and transparency at every level. Opinion is also sought from relevant stakeholders who are aware of community needs and shortfalls in local preventive programmes.

2.2. In this instance it was recognised that there was a need to show more specific linkages between the most vulnerable groups of children and young people, and the proposed activity outlined in the application. It was recognised that this required a progression in thinking away from a model of universal provision, which did not specifically target groups and communities who might otherwise not access Scouting.

2.3. It was therefore agreed that the recommendation for the approval of this application would be dependent upon two factors; firstly that Hampshire Scouts would work with the Commissioning Co-ordination Unit to ensure that targets are set to monitor the outcomes of the work funded by this application, and that these will specifically show links to the CYPP and LAA outcomes. Secondly, that a project will be developed in consultation with the CCU staff to target a vulnerable group or community in order to demonstrate the added impact that this grant funding has made possible, and that the value of this project will be not less than one third of the total grant amount recommended.

3. Budget position

3.1. There are no additional budgetary implications linked to this decision, as the amount recommended is within the second round allocation of the integrated grant for 2009/10

4. Criteria of grant

4.1. The grant criteria are to meet the key targets for vulnerable children and young people as set out in the six outcomes of the CYPP and the LAA Priority targets

5. Other considerations

5.1. None

6. Recommendation(s)

6.1. That the grant recommendation of £9,000 is now approved subject to the subsequent development work outlined above being undertaken with the Commissioning Co-ordination Unit.

6.2 That the specific project proposal is reported back to the Executive Member by September 2009.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. This decision is assessed as having an overall positive impact on equalities as it is targeted at groups who might otherwise be excluded.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1.

This decision would tend to reduce crime and disorder, by providing positive activities for children and young people.