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Decision details

Interim Grant for Befriending Services

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Adult Care

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Seeking approval for an up to 1 year interim grant in order to redesign funded befriending activity and ensure a robust mechanism for awarding and monitoring future service provision.

Decision:

That the Cabinet Member approves the provision of grants totalling £160,652 to the nine organisations that currently provide befriending services for a period of up to 1 year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 as set out in this report.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The assessments completed for the befriending activity, determined that future funding should be secured through commissioning.  The commissioning process will not be in place by 1 April 2023. The interim grants proposed in this report align to agreed grant policies and processes and will bridge any gap between the current provision and future commissioning pathways to ensure continuity of service whilst commissioning plans are executed.  In addition, they will allow time for a fair and robust application process to be put in place by no later than 31 December 2023, for funding to be made available from 1 April 2024.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could do nothing and allow the current grant to end on 31 March 2023. This would impact those organisations currently delivering befriending activity and potentially leave some vulnerable people without support.  By making an interim fixed term grant agreement this would ensure continuity of service until alternative arrangements are identified.

Publication date: 25/01/2023

Date of decision: 25/01/2023

Effective from: 02/02/2023

Accompanying Documents: