Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item, referring to previous discussions about the Age UK services being funded through the Supporting Vulnerable and Isolation Older People Fund.  A full review of the service was underway and it was suggested that the Area Council receives feedback from this at the meeting in June.

In relation to the Working Together Fund, over the past few years a total of £209,456 had been devolved for allocation.  From this £61,030 remained to distribute. Members noted that one application was on hold, pending further consideration of the Supporting Young People priority at the scheduled workshop.

Members noted that the funding to support South Pennine Community Transport would be coming to an end on 31^st March, 2020.  It was acknowledged  that the organisation was in discussion with SYPTE  but that further grant funding may be required.  If this was the case Members encouraged an application to the Working Together Fund, ideally for either less finance than before, or providing a greater level of service than previously.  Any unallocated Working Together Fund finance would be carried forward to the 2020/21 financial year.

Members noted that the current Clean and Tidy contract had originally started in 2017.  Due to satisfactory performance this had subsequently been extended, and would now end on 31^st March, 2020.  In August 2019, the Area Council had decided to commission a similar service, with a view to this being established from 1^st April, 2020.  The commission had been advertised, returns received, and a tender evaluation panel had convened to select a preferred provider.  The outcome of this would feed into the next meeting of the Area Council.

Due to additional finance being made available for the Ward Alliance Fund, significant finance remained, however this would be carried forward for distribution in 2020/21.

Members were reminded about the previous approval for content relating to the Ward Alliance and Area Council to feature in two editions of the Penistone Living publication.   The next edition would be published on 21^st February, 2020 and would feature Men in Sheds, Watermeadows Park, and a short article on the work undertaken to support young people.  Members noted the positive coverage and were minded to consider future space in the publication.

The Area Council Manager provided an overview of the current financial situation.  In 2019/20 £178,171 had been allocated, leaving £21,829 to be carried forward to 2020/21.  Within 2020/21, finance had been allocated to Age UK and the Clean and Tidy commission with approximately £71,000 remaining.

RESOLVED:-

(i)            That the report be noted;

(ii)          That the update and progress of contracts funded by the Supporting Isolated and Older People Grant Fund be noted, and that a full review of the service be provided at the June meeting of the Area Council;

(iii)         That the update and financial position of the Penistone Working Together Funds be noted;

(iv)         That the update on the current Clean and Tidy contract, and the procurement of a future contract to commence April 2020, be noted;

(v)          That the current financial position of the Penistone Ward Alliance Fund be noted;

(vi)         That the provision of Area Council updates in the February edition of Penistone Living be noted, and that the provision of material in future editions be considered at a future meeting of the Area Council;

(vii)       That the financial position of the Area Council for 2019/20 and that predicted for 2020/21 be noted.