(Report of Chief Executive)
The report sought agreement of the levels of grant funding to key voluntary and community sector groups for the next financial year.
The organisations had provided summaries of progress achieved against the objectives set out in Service Level Agreements. It was noted that it had been an extremely difficult and busy year and that the pandemic had continued to increase pressure and caused change to operating methods.
Careful consideration was given to the financial and value for money implications set out in the report and the potential impact on the voluntary and community sector.
Following consideration by the Communities and Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Community Services resolved that:
(1) based on the good progress and the support provided to residents from Involve, Imago and the Mediation Schemes, grant funding be continued for year 3 of the 4-year service level agreement;
(2) based on the good progress and the support provided to residents from Citizens Advice North and West Kent (CANWK), grant funding be maintained at current levels for the financial year 2022/23; and
(3) based on the good progress and support provided, a 2-year service level agreement be put in place with Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, at £6,400.