 Okay, thank you. Good morning everybody. I'm Councillor Joseph Hales. Welcome to the Grants Advisory Committee meeting 28th of August 2020. I'm going to go for a quick roll call for the members of the public watching. Aaron, would you just kindly introduce all the members? Yes, good morning. Thank you, Chair. Just before I get around to that, I'm just going to say that we have an apology from Councillor Daunton today and Councillor Hanley is stepping in her place. But members, I will read out your name. Please, could you confirm that you're present and remember to unmute your microphones before you speak? Councillor Deltafield, please. Yes, I'm present. Councillor Ellington. Yes, I'm here. Councillor Hanley. I'm here. Councillor Mcdonald. Yes, I'm present. And Councillor Hales, obviously we're aware that you're present. And Councillor John Williams, the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance is also in attendance at the meeting. Good morning, everyone. Thank you. Could you also do me a favour with regards to the officers who are present, whether they're visual or otherwise, so please remain. Of course. So we have my colleague Jonathan Malton in the background who will be doing the streaming of this meeting today. There's myself. I'm the Democratic Services Officer for the meeting and I'll be clerking proceedings. And then we have the officer presenting the report for today, Leslie McFarlane. Thank you very much. Members, does anyone have any decorations of interest? Yes. Councillor Ellington. I need to declare the time trust the full care network. Thank you. Aaron, if you could make a note of that much obliged. Thanks, Chair. Moving on then, we're going to go to the agenda on page one, go through the minutes of the last of the 31st July. As usual, we'll just go through by the page. Could you just sing out, please, if you have anything to raise. So it's page one, page two, page three, and page four. If everybody's happy, oh, sorry, sir, would you mind? So you're on mute, Mulla. Sorry, I'm happy with the minutes, except I would like to ask if there's been a change of typeface for the document, because it does seem that we've got slightly larger type, which doesn't fit into the channels, and it makes it extremely difficult to read sensibly. Sorry, Chair, if you don't mind me answering that. So yes, there has been an increase in the typeface. That is to meet the new accessibility regulations, and we're currently seeking some assistance from ModGov to alter the templates that we have on our business application, so that it all fits together a little bit nicer than it does currently. So apologies to members for that, but it has been an increase in typeface. Thank you. Okay, okay, other than that, members, you're happy for me to have you signed off as an accurate record. Great. Thank you very much. Okay, the the only agenda item today is the service support grants 12 month back date for 2019 stroke 20. I'm going to ask Leslie if she would like to introduce this and run it through, and then members, if you've got questions for Leslie and Maya, that'd be great. Thank you. Leslie, happy to be here. Okay, good morning, everybody. This report presents the delivery of outcomes of the grants that we award to the voluntary sector. So grants are awarded over a three year contract, and what we do is we ask those recipients to report on an annual basis. So this report is reporting back on year one, so the first year of those three years, so from April 2019 to March 2020. Members, do we have any questions for Leslie? Whole report or for as you wish, as you wish. It's a free floor. I wanted to just raise the issue around service grant for arts and minds, which clearly have only reached three South Cams residents, and I just felt that that was not really very adequate, and also with the code by monthly magazine has only reached six South Cams residents, and I just felt that maybe the effort wasn't directed towards South Cams. So the arts and minds, if I can address the arts and minds query, so they've had a change of leadership in the last six months. So I queried this with them, because what we ask is for a minimum of seven South Cams residents with an aspirational target of 21. Now what happens is the money that we award them, which is I think we give them £2,500 a year, that covers the cost of one course. So what the new CEO reported on was the number of South Cams residents that attended that one course that we funded. But in actual fact, 11 South Cams residents have attended a number of courses that have been put on by arts and minds, but she only reported on the one that we funded. So I queried that, and I think in previous years the CEO reported the number of South Cams residents in total. So it may look on the face of it, but only three attended, but there were 11, which is more than the minimum seven that we would that we've set as their target. So I hope that clears that one up. And the number of copies of bi-monthly magazines circulated in South Cams, that, sorry, is probably a misunderstanding in how you've interpreted that. So there were six magazines that were published this year. So it's bi-monthly, so every other month. So they did their six magazines and they would have reached the number of South Cams residents, so 797. That's my interpretation of the English right by me. Are you okay there? You're okay there with that, so yeah? Yeah. Yeah, thank you. Yes, I mean I had similar sort of thoughts on the arts and minds, and I seem to remember us discussing this a year ago or whenever the last time that we looked at it and reading their report. I mean the sort of work that they do is obviously really good and valuable to the people who receive it and really helps them, but it is quite expensive per person and it was just to sort of think about to think about that for the future really. You know £2,500 for reaching 11 people compared with some of the other things that we're funding which reach a great much greater number of people. So it was just to kind of to think about that and I kind of, the value for money is perhaps the wrong phrase because obviously it has a huge impact on the people that the money goes to and receives, but yeah just sort of thinking about in the context of the other grants that we give really. Okay. Thank you Bill. Thank you. This is just just curious. I notice that the budget for all of the categories remains the same of course years except the category eight where it rises by one percent per annum. I just wondered why that's different from the rest. Let me just go down to category eight. Guys could I ask a favour could you give us the page number you're looking at when you yeah sorry okay. Yeah unfortunately I'm a little bit hands off on the housing and homelessness service support grants. This is handled by Heather Wood in housing so unfortunately I can't answer that question now but I can get back to you on that. I mean I'm all in favour of it rising by one percent and probably the better way of putting the question is that why on the other's increased by one percent. I think we've given a finite budget you know at the end of that three year period and I think we yeah it's been the same amount yeah okay. I suppose that is a question for John actually Bill. Yes. John we are well if you if you would like to Bill I mean if you and your team would like to put a bid in to increase the amount in the budget then obviously that will be considered. Okay we'll take that offline thanks John. I was going to say because on top of that I'll come to you in a sec Pete and just on top of that is the fact that we've got the mobile warden schemes and they're going over to long-term processes like this so we're going to get guaranteed funding for a period so again we're going to need to reflect the cost of living and what have you rising each year so that might well be issues to concern there as well John. Pete's a first in prayer again please. I may chair it may be better to take it later it's a question around citizens advice. Okay. Do you want to take it now or later on? I wish really. I mean the work that they're doing first of all this is our largest single expenditure. I think the work they're doing is invaluable there are obvious questions in our minds now about how two things first of all how they're going to be able to service the community because in the past a lot of that has been face to face. I notice on the report that you know they have they have web chat obviously by telephone and other things and so it's maybe a follow-up action after this not a criticism at all in the report which is a very good report to say how are they going to be able to deliver it. Will the numbers fall significantly as a result of not being able to do a face-to-face interaction? I don't know it's a question and you know citizens advice we can see from what's in here and as a result of COVID and potential unemployment situations that their work is potentially going to increase exponentially. What page are you on? Just generally from page 24 Sue. I couldn't find the relevant chart. Could I come in please? I was going to sort of comment on a very similar thing actually which is on page 28 they commented that they've adapted their services and now continue to help even more people without real face-to-face work and that's really good but I think I agree with Peter it would be good to know what even more people means in terms of how many more and understand a bit more about the pressures that they're now under because I think it's clear even in this report given the dates that this report was written that their work has gone up considerably from the previous year which is it's good to see that it's reaching more people but obviously concerned to make sure that they can deliver the services that we need them to so just similar simple comments to to Peter but a really good report and really good to read some of the case studies showing the real impact of their support on people within the community. Thank you. All right anybody else Sue carry on. It would seem to me that this is something we will need to come back to to look at how well they are able to respond to all the needs that they're going to have to respond to following COVID and as a result of COVID it seems to me it is the service that is probably the most useful for the general public who have fallen into arrears with their rents or whatever. I just think that we may need to think about doing them all. Well on that note Sue, Leslie I wonder the the extension to the landlord's not chopping you out. Offer by government runs out on the 20th of September I think was it on 19th something like that mid-September so but then of course the furlough scheme ends at the end of October so there is the speculation that lots of companies may well be shedding staff but if they do that they may be on monthly contracts which means at the end of September there should likely be could likely be a large increase in people knowing they're going to be able to work in a month's time so that might be something that we would perhaps like the CAB's comments on this how they're going to manage that. John. You're on mute John. Right just to say that the governments extended the ability for landlords not to evict tenants for another six months. Is it six months? Oh I think that's right okay so fortunately that's not an issue but you're quite right when the furlough scheme comes to an end I think many people will find themselves released from their employment. Okay well there is another side to this landlords not not evicting people is that a lot of landlords have these as businesses without their things so you could argue that is there a slightly further up the food chain issue that will the landlords come be coming to the CAB to ask advice so that would be interesting to know because that would have an impact on us because if people are going to be made homeless then our teams within South Canada homelessist teams are going to be inundated potentially with people saying get me emergency housing so I think there's a there is a need actually for as as Claire and Peter both rightly say that that there could be a slightly more detailed look at specifics if you like as as to what's about to happen in the future from their point of view. Anybody else got some points on this? That's quite a real interesting one this you know I think and sad Claire. Yeah just the last thing on citizens advice and I think it was useful seeing where they bolded this year in the report this year versus last year's cases but the issues table on page 25 which shows the number of clients that have gone to them advice for different things it would be quite useful to actually see the year-on-year change on that and if you know where where people are wanting help and that's I guess going to be particularly critical over the next few months and the next 12 months or so. Claire we'll just comment on that. Claire would it be helpful when you raised that would it be helpful that a lot of this is going to be based around COVID I think this at the moment isn't it certainly for this year and into next right and the effects of that's going to be causing society so to speak. Would it be helpful to have a month by month look or figures to see how it how it ramps up I mean it's okay certainly for the year but that's a whole year and it takes in six months of us going through what we've been through recently and you know I just wonder if that would be helpful if it's doable. You might be asking already overwrought staff for additional work there Joes but I can certainly I can request it. Sure I would have thought they must have the data on my spreadsheet somewhere. So the thing is what are we going to do with the information when we've got it because unless we've we've got a plan that enables us to tweak things or help things we're putting staff under extra pressure for no real gain is my only concern. Yeah I would only be really looking for data that was already available but rather than asking them to do something new. Anybody else got any questions? Peter's had his hand up for a long time. Is he? Oh yeah sorry Pete. No I actually I didn't lower it but I do have another point so that's good. They do of course have an office in Camborn I wonder whether well I would suggest just a suggestion with Leslie is we some members of the committee have an informal call with them and see what help we can give them in the short term. As was mentioned we are producing very good reports and we're getting those you know periodically I think it's such an exceptional situation at the moment it may be worth having an informal call and working out what else we can do in the community to support them. Of course. I would agree with that and as the new lead member for Health and Wellbeing I think I probably should be involved. Could I just say as well I had a quite long conversation with Mark Freeman from CCVS and CCVS represent all the charities and what he had said was that the bigger charities are suffering more due to reduction in funding opportunities and because a lot of their shops have closed whereas a smaller charity seem to be sort of either adapting or they've just gone dormant but really his point was that there's lots of extra money being handed out at the moment in the form of emergency funding but this often has a six month deadline but actually the so for the next six months you know the the charities will probably be able to keep their heads above water but it's there after it's the day-to-day funding not just the emergency funding that I think is critical and just to see some of these organizations you know continue to to offer the services that they are they've been offering through this period. Brilliant John can you take your hand down and take your arm doesn't it? Yeah yeah thanks. I've got a question on the community network if I may. Um we've had just we've had discussions about um their their area of operation in the past and um what I am quite interested in seeing is that clearly they use Cambridge Dilawide for a lot of their their work now we don't support Cambridge Dilawide um for um some very good reasons so where are we on the due diligence on this that they are using um a service that we ourselves are not happy in supporting. John can I just ask what page refers to? Oh sorry this is page 67. Thank you John. Sorry apologies. That's okay yes. I wonder whether we need to we need to look at this. I mean clearly um I you know I've no problem with them using Cambridge Dilawide but given the fact that we ourselves will support Cambridge Dilawide because they aren't able to satisfy our requirements in regard of due diligence um are we happy that the network are using them on our behalf? That's all I'm asking. Maybe we need to look at that. Could I just clarify actually page 65 because that was a question I had it doesn't have a heading on there is that um page 63 is the voice and community transport page 65 I don't have a does that refer to the voluntary network? I'm just it's not clear is it? No and so when I was reading the report I was queering what that referred to. Yeah that is the voluntary network. It says yeah I've just said on the on the following page it does say the voluntary network but just it was a bit confusing reading the report. On the uh on the second box down on page 65 um so they have uh actively promote the transport service blah blah blah the bullet which says contact with the GPS and other support services look like they're in global positioning rather than these GPS because I assume they mentioned it. Anyway so Leslie could you just look into that? I will yeah. So could I raise a different theory which is in relation to the report page 45 report for Coe um the Old People's Enterprise in the first paragraph it talks about the fact that um they've had a lot of their volunteers and the committee have had to self isolate and pretty much kind of shut down and I was just really asking do we have any idea um about how they're going to proceed and cope and what that cope is a bit of a how they're going to manage um going forward because obviously that isn't it that is concerning for them um yeah I don't know um whether there was any further information on that or or could we check in with them um Leslie I think was the the point really to see how they're being impacted and and what their thoughts are for how they're going to make sure um they can provide the support that they have in the past. I yeah I had made contact with all of them not all of them had got back to me so I think cope was one of those that hadn't responded but I'll follow up. Particularly because looking at a lot of the you know social events has been a big and outings have been big aspects of their work and obviously they're going to be things that are really impacted and whether they have the capacity to offer alternative alternative things or whether they can be signed their clients can be signed posted to other I don't know but it's just it just was a area of concern. It's actually I think sometimes these are a lack of information a lack of understanding of the the law as it stands at the moment with regards to uh numbers of people that can get together um as well as not having a plan in place. I was speaking with a gentleman who's uh yesterday actually with regards to hearing help and hearing help they've been very forthright in how they've got their plan and their new processes to comply with um uh protecting their workers and what have you who are in the same age group generally as the cope people so it's probably a good idea if some of these organisations talk to each other they might be able to help each other out in that in that matter. I think I was just very conscious that you know a lot of the work that cope have done is about addressing some loneliness and obviously that's something that's much going to be much more exposed to people at the moment um yeah it sort of brings it home doesn't it? Yeah it does okay need more for any more guys um can can I just raise something on uh the farmland museum chair? Yeah please do um uh so going back to Leslie's comment I mean this is probably arguably the one that's impacted more than anybody because it's it's a site for visitors um so I really you know they've been doing a great job so there's provisional numbers 7800 for 2019 uh you know they've been around the 8000 mark I mean that's going to have collapsed so um again I think it may be an informal conversation with the of call with the trustees to say can we help them in terms of bouncing back um when when when it's time Leslie go ahead there's some good news so yesterday I just happened to read in the paper that they were successful in um winning the or getting their lottery heritage lottery funding funding which was about £28,600 so they actually reopened their doors yesterday um so they've certainly things are looking much better for them uh at least from now to to the end of the year fantastic that's great again the trick is to diversify um I've not been so to the to the venue I'm sure that some of my colleagues have what kind of space do they have I mean they have a cafe which is obviously going to be a big earner if it's being used there are very good examples I can put you in touch with one that is very close to my heart as to how they are working to allow the cafe to operate under COVID restriction and doing very nicely thank you very much so I think these are some of the things where it's imparting information to others if they don't have the confidence or they feel they don't know the information ask and this might be something where our officers Leslie might be able to convene some information from others to say you need to talk to a session such or actually they're doing it like this and you know that we do need to assist as many people as we can to get back on their feet but they do need to be able to understand what they can and can't do Claire thank you um there was a something that very much sort of jumped out of the report to me when I was reading it was um page 18 reading um about Cambridge women's aid um and I was just you know thinking about you know they they received sort of just over eight and a half thousand pounds in in the category eight um housing homelessness in in that um for that year um and it was just very conscious of the number of people who've been supported she's really both stressing and good to see that they are being supported um but really very aware of the fact that we know from all the coverage that there's been a real impact in people who've been suffering domestic violence um and domestic abuse during COVID and so two things really one is um have they locally seen numbers rising and do we have capacity to give more um or think about how we move our support into areas that are going to be really needed in the future that was really what I was thinking about okay now I don't need to investigate yeah yeah so but you haven't had anything any recent information from that yeah I mean we'd be useful to hear um what impact they have seen in terms of the number of people calling on them I think that'd be great to have that information back next year and just just flags me something that we need to think about um because it is all about not just supporting people but preventing homelessness and uh yeah those aspects Claire can you take your hand down guys when you when you're called to speak take your hand down we're right just quickly on that note uh Leslie on page 19 um after following on from what Kara just said I'm coming to you in a second by the way so um it's the in bold it's the status about the funding uh the annual grants paid out in in 2021 is scheduled for August of this year that payment has that been made yet again I would I need to check because that's going to be integral for these these organizations in being able to carry on frankly without having to worry about their payments a week later with them if so John do you have any information on when they might be paid it says August I'm assuming that's the end of August it seems that today is more or less the end of August you're on mute again John uh apologies Joe so I'm sorry I got interrupted by another another call what was the question it's on page 19 in the the bold status paragraph the last piece on page 19 where it talks about the funding for the 2021 financial year being paid in August of this year is so whether or not that's been made and at what point in August is it going to be made um I have no reason not to think it's um it won't be made on time um I've not been been told otherwise um certainly check with with um with the head of finance but um I don't um don't see any reason why it won't be paid thank you we'll probably that to those of us doing anyway yeah um so take your hand down please and uh carry on following on from Claire what Claire was saying about um trying to support those organizations which are particularly affected by covid um it does come back to what Claire and I both started at the beginning with which was bang for buck really and and trying to make sure that our resources are aimed at the most vulnerable and and where they will do the most for the most number of people and and I think that we have to ask officers to just help us find our way through that's another one for your list and Leslie okay guys has anyone got any more questions on any of the different sections that are in this terrific report and I have to say I'd just like to echo what other people have said Leslie um he's a lovely report thank you very much thank you um if it's entirely around work and blind up if it's not if you pass on our thanks to everybody else as well thank you jose entirely mine then then it's it's it's where it's beyond words thank you um has as anyone else got any any comments I mean Leslie's got a list to go away and do um how would we like to play this would we like um Leslie she's kind enough to email us out um at least I've come up on this drawing um email us out with the answers and what have you and then that generates some questions for the next meeting or would you like to have those answers in the report and that we bring to another meeting I'm in your hands as well as Leslie so personally I'd be quite comfortable for some of those things to come back as um just reported for the next meeting but so I think we're in such a fluid situation and at the moment but um we may like to have an ongoing email if there's anything that really needs us to think about quicker than waiting for the next meeting right guys Peter Bill or John yes I agree with what what Sue says it's so fluid that um trying to set out to I think we need to be responsive um some of these organizations will have more problems more quickly than others um and I think we just need to be um obviously keep the lines of communication through Leslie and the other officers open and then you know we may have to um have have a separate whether it's a formal or informal discussion with them depending on how they're getting on and the needs that they have may be slightly different over the next three to six months yeah I think some of the organizations are going to need close to their attention particularly like the conversation we were having about Citizens Advice Bureau etc um and the one we've just had about um the women's aid um yeah yeah they definitely need to close a close I kept I think yeah I agree with that I agree with everything that's been said John Bill yeah I well email would be best for me but I think it's clear that um I need to speak with Leslie and Gareth and um maybe review what what we are doing uh priorities and so on um I think that would be it's a good time to do that in the light of COVID should we should we I've been asked Leslie she's kind of have to do um the email process moment for you know blow by blow update if you like yeah and then perhaps when we get a month or two further on when we get really into the thick of it with regards to uh furlough finishing and etc etc perhaps a a one or two pager which can sum it up with one of the meetings towards that point there that's if that's okay with you Bill was lead yeah yeah absolutely Leslie yeah okay guys thanks right so we've got if there's no other questions on the other or comments and bits and pieces on the agenda itself I'm looking at looks like a no Leslie do you have anything to to sum up with um only in that um I think it with you know the the charities that we're working with they're all doing a fantastic job but they're going through a tremendous amount of turmoil and uncertainty at the moment and I think um our support wherever we can give it would be greatly appreciated because they do do a fantastic job in terms of kind of covering off everything that we kind of represent as a local authority in terms of health and well-being and those wider determinants of health um and just really supporting the residents you know in in a very in very exceptional circumstances everybody's under a great deal of pressure at the moment so if we can help in any way then I think that will be a great thing thank you very much Peter um it's not for today but um as part of the discretionary grant process we have made awards to 23 charities um so what I think we should do is um at the next meeting just say um you know do we know do we know where that was uh where and how that was spent and how does that support financial support which is substantial how does that uh integrate with what we're doing what we've done here because those are uh if you like one off grants on the basis of the discretionary rules and what we have here is ongoing uh funding for a number of organizations um and and hopefully all of that money the 23 that we've made awards to you know it's going to help them considerably I think it'd be nice just to see that alongside um what we're doing here thank you that sounds really really really helpful suggestion Peter okay guys page nine top of that options grants committee could number one note the delivery of all grant programs within the scope of this report and agree that all are on track as per officer opinion and or number two highlight any concerns of further investigation or actions given reasons and request that follow-up report be returned to get within appropriate time sales I think that we've managed to go to number two really give them take that so um Aaron are we are we um safe if you like just to say that we are essentially doing number two um with this option option two of the two options on page nine or would you like us to formally accept it number two uh I mean it doesn't need to be a roll call um you know certainly just sort of acclimatization of the committee would be uh wonderful guys if you could just put your hand up physically by that you're accepting that uh Bill I would whilst you're not a member of this committee as the lead are you are you accepting that we accept number two as well well I can accept number two but it looks to me as if actually we might be able to accept both I don't think they're binary it's not binary is it no so it says it says and or um we I think it's an excellent report I agree with you on that Joe and but there are concerns not not related directly to the report but you know the fact that we need to look at the various components and see if there's great we can we can offer great to help and support so I actually think both of them apply okay so we're looking at one and two with an update this okay sorry sorry no no please don't I mean this is what it's all about and I'm I'm I'm easy either way whatever you guys think is what we do so it's fantastic so um on that basis then uh Aaron it's a one and a two with an update please Leslie you've got the message anyway and you've got this as long as you're on um and uh so members of the public who are watching uh this is the end of this particular meeting our next meeting is on the 25th of September Friday 25th September I believe it to be 10 o'clock Aaron that's correct it is um I'd like to thank everybody for coming along this morning it's lovely it's a terrific meeting um and again thank you to officers thank you Leslie for the for the uh the report superb and thank you Aaron and Jonathan in the background there for keeping the meeting running smoothly and looking at all our smiley faces so on that note if there's nothing else I would like to say au revoir and uh see you at the next one if not before thank you thank you very much indeed thank you bye everybody bye bye thanks everyone are we now offline Aaron uh Jonathan could you confirm that and he'll be with us in a sec Jonathan it's uh my last thing that's slow uh do apologize that's okay darling no sweat