Issue - meetings

A report relating to the recovery of the voluntary and community sector was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 October 2020.  The Minutes extract is attached for information.

Item 0S 20/26 referred from Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 3 December

Consideration of recommendations (OS 20/26) to the Cabinet from the meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 3 December 2020.

The Cabinet resolved that:

(1)          The Borough Council continued to:

-       Work with voluntary and community sector organisations;

-       Develop opportunities to support the sector; and

-       Explore new opportunities to provide assistance where appropriate.

Decision Notice D210014CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 3 December 2020 (as set out at Minute Number OS 20/26).

RESOLVED: That the Borough Council continued to:

-       Work with voluntary and community sector organisations;

-       Develop opportunities to support the sector; and

-       Explore new opportunities to provide assistance where appropriate.

This report provides an update to the previous scoping report with updates to be provided by a number of speakers who will be attending the meeting.

The Chief Executive provided an update to the scoping report considered at a previous meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had recognised that the voluntary and community sector had been significantly affected by the impact of the pandemic.

Representatives from Kent Community Foundation (KCF), West Kent Mind and Citizens Advice North and West Kent advised what services were being provided, how the organisations had been affected by the pandemic and how services had been adapted.

Members listened to the information provided by the invited speakers with interest and expressed appreciation for the good work undertaken by these organisations.  A number of points were raised including the recent survey undertaken by KCF which found that voluntary sector organisations had a potential shortfall in income by March 2021 of 27% (£135M); the establishment of a new Voluntary Sector Steering Group for Kent to provide a strategic view and expert opinion on policies affecting the most disadvantaged communities; the increase in stress, anxiety and mental health issues and the positive transition to providing services online and via telephone.  It was reported that many of the changes had been positively received and some customers found the new ways of working more accessible and convenient.

RECOMMENDED:  That the Borough Council continued to:

-               work with voluntary and community sector organisations;

-               develop opportunities to support the sector;  and

-               explore new opportunities to provide assistance where appropriate.

*Referred to Cabinet