Agenda item

The item was introduced by the Area Council manager who drew the attention of the members to the contracts awarded under the Supporting Vulnerable and Older Peoples Service, members were informed that the original grant funded service was due to finish in 2020 but that due to the pandemic members had agreed to extend it by 6 months.  It had been hoped that a procurement process for a new service would have been in place by June 2021, however, by the time the decision had been taken the post Christmas lockdown had begun.  Members were informed that there was still a large amount of work to be carried out therefore it was proposed to extend the contract for a further 6 months to give time for a transition period and to be able to invite Age UK to a Member Briefing in order to provide a detailed report to aid in working out what the future need would be.  The cost of the 6 month extension would be a further £35,000 and would allow a revised timetable of procurement to include a Workshop in August and to agree the grant specification over Autumn in preparation for a new service in January, 2022.

Members received an update on the Penistone Area Council Working Together Fund, which had already funded 2 contracts with DIAL and CAB, it was reported that Penistone FM had submitted an application for grant funding to support the Young Minds Project which had been agreed at a cost of £8,583, leaving a balance of £33,699 which continued to be promoted by the Area Team to encourage further applications. 

Members were informed that the Working Together Grant Fund – Supporting Young People Grant Panel had assessed applications in late April/early May 2021 and approved 5 projects at a total cost of £40,494.  The overspend of £494, which was outside of the ringfenced £40,000 allocation for the Fund would be funded from the main Working Together Fund.

The Clean Green and Tidy contract which was agreed at a cost of £100,000 for the 2021/2022 year continued to thrive and members were informed that they would continue to look at the outcomes from that contract as the move out of lockdown continued. 

The Ward Alliances opening budget for the financial year 2021/22 was £26,925.  Members were informed that applications for finding were now increasing as groups had started to commence.  Projects totalling £7,610.40 had been approved for funding at the meeting held on 20^th May, 2021 resulting in £19,314 available to spend.  Members were asked if they wished to allocate £10,000 to ringfence as a pot of money for smaller groups who wished to support young people for the summer period and summer holiday activities.  Members noted that if the money was not used then it would be returned back to the main Ward Alliance budget for projects in the future. 

Members expressed their support to the ringfenced money for smaller projects and were aware of a number of projects that would benefit from it. 

Members noted that the spend to date from the 2021/22 financial year budget was £100,000 on the Twiggs Contract with a further £35,000 for the Age UK 6 month extension and £10,000 for the Ward Alliance, leaving a total of £70,225. 

RESOLVED:-

(i)           That the update on procurement activity be received;

(ii)          That the update of contracts funded by the existing Supporting Isolated and Older People Grant Fund within the report be noted;

(iii)        That the revised grant procurement process and timetable to establish future provision to support vulnerable and isolated older people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, be approved;

(iv)        That agreement be given for £35,000 to be utilised to provide a further 6-month extension to existing grant contracts Supporting Vulnerable and Isolated Older People to ensure continuity of service whilst a procurement of new services takes place;

(v)          That update and current financial position of the Penistone Working Together Fund be received;

(vi)        That the update on ringfences funds within the existing Working Together Fund to establish specific activities that will support young people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic be received;

(vii)       That the updates on the new Clean and Tidy contract started in April 2020 with the report be noted;

(viii)     That the update on the Ward Alliance Fund budget be noted and that £10,000 be approved for a ring-fenced funding pot within the Ward Alliance Funds to support young people’s activities during the school summer holiday period 2021;

(ix)        That the current financial position for 2021/22 be noted.