Agenda item

The item was introduced by the Area Council manager who drew the attention of the members to the Supporting Vulnerable and Older Peoples Service, members were reminded that an extension to the Age UK contract had been awarded until the end of December, 2021 and informed that a procurement process had been established which included a member workshop to take place on 17^th August, 2021, which members were encouraged to attend, to agree the new grant specifications followed by a period of time during October when grant funding applications would be accepted with a view to then organising a Grants Panel for assessment of the applications during November and December, 2021 to ensure the new service chosen would be ready to be delivered in January 2022. 

Members received an update on the Penistone Area Council Working Together Fund, which had a remaining balance of £33,599 in the fund.  Members were informed that a drive to encourage more applications had taken place through an advert in the Penistone Living supplement and members were encouraged to push forward any suitable projects to receive funding. 

Members were informed that the Working Together Grant Fund – Supporting Young People Grant Fund was standing at £40,594 with 5 projects approved that would be reported on once they had completed their first quarter.

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 receive a further summary for the full Quarter 1 at the next meeting of the Area Council to take place in September, 2021. 

The Ward Alliances opening budget for the financial year 2021/22 was £26,925.  Members were informed that an increase in applications for funding were being received as groups had started to commence.  Projects totalling £6,937.77 had been approved at the meeting held on 1^st July, 2021. 

Members were reminded of the additional £10,000 ring fenced budget to encourage applications from groups to provide summer holiday activities, and whilst there had been 2 projects approved from this initially no further applications had been received.  Members were asked whether they wished to place the remaining budget of £8,410 back into the main Area Council budget or whether they would be minded to use this money out of the school holiday for other projects.

Members then went on to raise concerns around the initiative for children who receive free school meals called the Healthy Holidays Club which had replaced the vouchers and food parcels sent out in previous school holiday periods.  The majority of concerns were that whilst it seemed a good idea, hardly any placements had signed up for the club and the ones that had in the area were full to capacity leaving families without.  Members questioned whether it would be feasible to use the ringfenced pot of money to fund some vouchers or food parcels. 

Issues were raised around identifying children eligible for the free school meals and ensuring the families eligible received the parcels or vouchers.  Members agreed that they would like this to be investigated further and expressed their support for this initiative.

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.

Members were informed that a reimbursement was expected from the Local Support Grant which supported the Welfare Information and Advice Service which was available for people self isolating and based on the numbers of people coming through the Information and Advice Service which would be updated at a future meeting once it had been received. 

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 update on the 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 noted

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

(v)          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;

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

(vii)       that the update on the Ward Alliance Fund budget be noted including the £10,000 ringfenced funding pot to support young people’s activities during the school summer holiday period 2021 be noted;

(viii)     that the Area Council Manager investigate whether the remaining money in the Working Together Fund – Supporting Young People ringfenced budget could be used to fund food parcels or food vouchers for children who receive free school meals and acquire the required approval from Ward Alliance Members;

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