Issue - meetings

That Cabinet Agrees:

1.    To launch a Third Sector Investment Fund Round under the seven priority areas set out in this paper.

2.    That the newly allocated funding will run from 1^st April 2025 to 31^st March 2028, with the option to extend by 1 more year (up to 31^st March 2029).

3.    To approve the establishment of a framework for the approval of grants falling within the Third Sector Investment fund. Under this framework the Cabinet grants delegated authority for the Award of Grants under the Third Sector Investment fund from 1st April 2025 up to 31^st March 2028 with a potential extension of one year up to 31^st March 2029 to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety.

The following councillors declared a significant interest on this item. They left the room during the consideration of the item and did not vote.

·         Councillor Wesley Harcourt as a Trustee of the Hammersmith & Fulham Citizens Advice Bureau.

·         Councillor Sharon Holder as a Trustee of the Action on Disability.

·         Councillor Bora Kwon as a Trustee of the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre.

Councillor Rebecca Harvey introduced the strategy paper aiming to support residents and the third sector by renewing the Council’s grants funding strategy. As the Council was seeking value for money for residents, it aimed to strengthen the third sector, through the renewed Third Sector Strategy. The Council was investing up to £3.9m intended to deliver a broad range of Council priorities and calling on all the Voluntary & Community Sector to rise to the challenge and urgently tackle the big issues through different routes.

The Leader stated that the Council had invested in the Lyric Theatre to stop it going bankrupt as well as funded the Law Centre to continue its services to residents. But he stressed that organisations would need to strictly meet the ruthlessly financially efficient(RFE) criteria to ensure best outcomes for residents.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

That Cabinet Agrees:

1.    To launch a Third Sector Investment Fund Round under the seven priority areas set out in this paper.

2.    That the newly allocated funding will run from 1^st April 2025 to 31^st March 2028, with the option to extend by 1 more year (up to 31^st March 2029).

3.    To approve the establishment of a framework for the approval of grants falling within the Third Sector Investment fund. Under this framework the Cabinet grants delegated authority for the Award of Grants under the Third Sector Investment fund from 1st April 2025 up to 31^st March 2028 with a potential extension of one year up to 31^st March 2029 to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety.