Decision details

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure:

(i)  Approved in principle the use of the remainder of the Councils VCS Development Reserve between now and Spring 2024, to invest in the VCSE sectors to address the resilience and capacity of community groups and organisations. This included investing in the delivery of help and support to households experiencing hardship as a result of the increases in the cost of living.

(ii)  Approved the use of £29,850 from the VCS Development Reserve previously set aside for the Commonwealth Games Schools Community Programme to fund the current VCS priorities as outlined in the report.

(iii)  Approved, subject also to approval from Cabinet in accordance with the Financial Regulations, to re-designate £23,760 from the Commonwealth Games volunteers reserve to fund the VCS priorities as outlined in this report.

(iv)  Agreed to allocate £120,000 from the VCSE Development Reserve to establish a Solihull Community Grant as an extension to the successful Wellbeing and Recovery Grant established to support voluntary and community groups during the pandemic.

(v)  Agreed to delegate approval to the Assistant Director for Communities and Partnerships, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to allocate up to £58,590 to enable community groups and organisations to utilise and deliver government grant funded activity such as the Household Support Fund and Holiday Activity & Food Programme. This would be until March 2024.