DELEGATED POWERS REPORT NO. SUBJECT: Grants to Voluntary & Community Organisations, 2010/11 Delegated Grants Report No. 6 Control sheet All of the following actions MUST be completed at each stage of the process and the signed and dated report MUST be passed to Democratic Service for publishing All reports 1. Democratic Services receive draft report 1161 Name of DSO Jonathan Regal Date 14/9/2010 2. Democratic Services cleared draft report as being constitutionally appropriate 3. Finance clearance obtained (report author to complete) 4. Staff and other resources issues clearance obtained (report author to complete) 5. Trade Union response received (Staffing issues only) 6. Legal clearance obtained from (report author to complete) 7. Policy & Partnerships clearance obtained (report author to complete) 8. Equalities & Diversity clearance obtained (report author to complete) 9. The above process has been checked and verified by Director, Head of Service or Deputy (report author to complete) 10. Signed & dated report, scanned or hard copy received by Democratic Services for publishing 11. Report published by Dem Services to website Name of DSO Jonathan Regal Date 14/9/2010 Name of Fin. officer Maria Christofi Date 20/9/2010 Name of Res. officer - Date Name of TU rep. - Date Name of Legal officer Margaret Boon Date 15/9/2010 Name of P&P officer Andrew Nathan Date 14/9/2010 Name of officer Andrew Nathan (for Julie Pal) Date 14/9/2010 Name Julian Mauger, for ACE Date 14/9/2010 Name of DSO Nick Musgrove Date 22/9/10 Name of DSO Nick Musgrove Date 23/9/10 Officer reports: 12. Head of Service informed report is published and can be implemented. Name of DSO Date Nick Musgrove 23/9/10 Cabinet Member reports: 13. Expiry of call-in period Date N/A 14. Report circulated for call-in purposes to COSC Name of DSO members & copied to Cabinet & Head of Date Service Date
ACTION TAKEN BY CABINET MEMBER UNDER DELEGATED POWERS (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION) Subject: Cabinet Member: Grants to Voluntary & Community Organisations, 2010/11 Delegated Grants Report No. 6 Cabinet Member for Customer Access and Partnerships Date of decision: 22 September 2010 Date decision comes into effect: Summary: Officer Contributors: Status: Wards affected: This report attaches an assessment of a grant application by Victim Support for decision under delegated powers in accordance with the procedure for approving voluntary and community sector grants of up to 20,000. Ken Argent, Manager, Third Sector Commissioning Team Paul Lamb, Community Protection Group Manager, Environment & Operations Directorate Public Not applicable Enclosures: (1) Approval sheet (2) Grant assessment Victim Support Reason for exemption from call-in (if appropriate): Not applicable Contact for further information: Ken Argent, Manager, Third Sector Commissioning Team, 020 8359 2020 Serial No: 1161
1. RELEVANT PREVIOUS DECISIONS 1.1 Cabinet, 21 May 2001 (Decision item 6) - adoption of scheme of delegated powers, vesting authority in the appropriate Cabinet Member to approve grants of up to 20,000. 1.2 Cabinet Resources Committee, 22 July 2008 (Decision item 11): approval of a Third Sector Commissioning Framework. 1.3 Council 2 March 2010: approval of corporate grants budget for 2010/11. 2 CORPORATE PRIORITIES AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS 2.1 Better Services with Less Money With the prospect of a significant reduction in government funding over the next three years, the council is seeking to develop effective partnerships to deliver high quality public services. The voluntary and community or Third sector has a significant role to play in this strategy, especially by increasing choice, accessibility and value for money, and improving customers perception of public services. 2.2 A Third Sector Commissioning Framework, approved by the Cabinet Resources Committee in July 2008 and consistent with the Voluntary Sector Compact agreed by Cabinet on 3 April 2008, sets out guidelines to: bring consistency to the council s financial arrangements with the voluntary and community sector; and bring procurement from, and grants to, the sector into a single framework consistent with the council s procurement rules. 2.3 In line with the final stage of the shift from grants to commissioning, the renewal of annual revenue funding from the corporate grants budget in 2010/11 is restricted to: existing providers of advice and information services pending the commissioning of a new community advice service; the provision of infrastructure services for the voluntary and community sector pending a review and potentially a new commissioning process; a small number of other groups, including Victim Support, that are currently in receipt of an annual grant pending either the integration of the funding into a commissioning programme or subject to in-year review within the context of the commissioning and procurement strategy. 2.4 The grants programme in 2010/11 is otherwise restricted to: start-up grants (towards capital or revenue costs) of up to 10,000, extending over a period of no more than one year, to enable a new service or experimental activity to be trialled and developed, to be made subject to the provision of business plan and exit strategy showing how the service or activity will continue once the grant ends; one-off grants (of up to 10,000) towards specific events, purchases or other nonrecurring items of expenditure,
in both cases subject to demonstration of how the service or activity in question will contribute to delivery of one or more of the key corporate priorities or Barnet s Sustainable Community Strategy. 2.5 The provision for making start-up and one-off grants includes the annual allocation of funds to the council from the Edward Harvist Charity and a small annual sum that derives from the former Borough Lottery Scheme. 2.6 A quarterly application process for start-up and one-off grants is being introduced in October 2010. 2.7 Attached to this report is an assessment of an application by Victim Support for the renewal of its core funding in 2010/11. The grant recommended is a final revenue award to the organisation pending the transfer of provision for the grant to the Environment & Operations Directorate for use in connection with commissioning by its Community Protection Division with effect from April 2011. 3 RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES 3.1 All grants are made subject to the council s Standard Conditions of Grant Aid, with which applicants are required to signify their compliance by signing a written undertaking. Amongst other things, the conditions cover how awards are spent, allowing council officers a right of access to proof thereof, and requiring notification of any change in an organisation s circumstances which significantly affect its finances, operations or grant entitlement. The council reserves the right to withhold payment of any approved grant, or to demand full or partial repayment, if it appears that an organisation has failed to comply with any of the conditions attached to the award. 4 EQUALITIES AND DIVERSITY ISSUES 4.1 All voluntary and community organisations grant-aided by the council are required to demonstrate that they have an equal opportunities policy covering users, staff and volunteers, which promotes equal treatment for all, irrespective of their age, disability, gender, sexuality, ethnic background, faith, health, language or social and economic background. Scrutiny of compliance with these considerations, and how they contribute to promoting good relations between people and communities, forms part of the standard procedure for assessing all applications and is reflected in the assessment herewith. 4.2 As the council moves towards a greater emphasis on commissioning and awarding of contracts, voluntary and community organisations are required to demonstrate how their activities support the council in meeting its equalities obligations. 5 USE OF RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS (Finance, Procurement, Performance and Value for Money, Staffing, IT, Property, Sustainability) 5.1 Set out overleaf is the current position on the 2010/11 grants budget following awards approved to date and taking account of a sum of 114,333 ring-fenced to extend approved awards to Barnet Citizens Advice Bureau Service and Barnet Law Service (currently running to 31 December 2010) over a full year:
Budget item 2010/11 budget Approvals/ Ring-Fenced Provision to date Funds available Recommended herewith Annual revenue awards 982,165 862,147 120,018 13,798 Start-up and one-off awards 159,626 17,400 142,226 0 TOTAL 1,141,791 879,547 262,244 13,798 6. LEGAL ISSUES 6.1 None. 7. CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS 7.1 Paragraph 3.2 of the Constitution (Responsibility for Functions) enables the appropriate Cabinet Member to approve grants to voluntary and community organisations up to the value of 20,000 per annum. 8. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 8.1 Attached is an assessment of an application by Victim Support, preceded by an approval sheet. 9. LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS 9.1 2010/11 grant application and related correspondence. 9.2 Any person wishing to inspect these papers should telephone 020 8359 2020 or 2098. 10. DECISION OF THE CABINET MEMBER 10.1 I authorise the award recommended overleaf, subject to the council s Standard Conditions of Grant Aid and any special conditions shown. Signed R Rams Cabinet Member for Customer Access and Partnerships Date 22 September 2010
Serial No. 1161 Please indicate your decision by placing an X under the relevant column SUMMARY OF GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS DELEGATED POWERS REPORT NO. 6 (10/11) Ref Organisation Grant(s) Recommended Agreed Not Agreed 49/C/VIC Victim Support 13,798 X TOTAL: 13,798 Signed: R Rams Date: 22 September 2010 Cabinet Member for Customer Access and Partnerships G:\Grants Unit\Reports 2010-11\DEL POWERS RPT No. 6.doc
GRANT APPLICATION 2010/11 ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION Corporate Priorities Organisation Address A Successful London Suburb Better Services with Less Money VICTIM SUPPORT 1 Morland Gardens, NW10 ref 49/C/VIC Contribution to policy The council and its partners are committed to reducing crime and disorder and making communities safer. The Safer Communities Strategy for Barnet, 2008/11, produced in accordance with statutory duties, underpins the work of the Barnet Safer Communities Partnership (BSCP) and seeks to meet Public Service Agreement targets of tackling serious acquisitive crime and reducing re-offending and the most serious violence, and address other local priority issues such as race and hate crime and alcohol and drug abuse. Victim Support is (VS) is a key agency in these initiatives: by helping people feel safe; communicating the facts about crime; and offering reassurance, it helps reduce the fear of crime and increase public confidence. VS is a unified national charity, formed from a previous federation of local victim support schemes, which offers a unique and enhanced service to the victims of crime. VS offers information, emotional support and practical help to the victims of crime, including the families and friends of victims and witnesses called upon to give evidence, and aims to ensure that their rights are acknowledged and advanced in all aspects of criminal justice and social policy. By providing victims with the opportunity to discuss a traumatic experience immediately after an incident, it helps alleviate distress and speed their recovery. A member of the BSCP, VS makes a significant contribution to local strategic initiatives such as the Domestic Violence Forum, the Youth Justice Board and the Hate Crime Panel. It takes an active role in increasing awareness, and reporting, of hate crime; reducing violence against women; and achieving other community safety targets in the Local Area Agreement. As a member of the Barnet Criminal Justice Group, VS helps review implementation of government legislation and directives on criminal justice reforms. It is also a member of the Multi Agency Operations Group in the borough. Outline of activities / service evaluation The main service, which is publicised (in the form of leaflets and posters) in public places throughout the borough; on the internet; through various community activities; and this year by way of a national advertising campaign, comprises: * one-to-one trauma counselling, usually in the victim s own home or at designated locations in the borough, including specialist help for victims of rape and serious assault; * advocacy for victims too distressed to act for themselves; * guidance with appeals and reviews; * assistance with insurance/criminal injuries compensation claims and all other forms of paperwork; * accompanying victims to court, tribunal hearings, identification parades, hospitals, mortuaries, etc; * practical advice on personal safety and home security, including the issue of personal alarms (free of charge) to vulnerable victims.
The merger of local schemes into the national charity in 2008 was aimed at improving service delivery methods through implementation of new procedures (under the banner of Victim Support Plus ) proposed by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR), under which victims are contacted, and have their needs assessed, more quickly. There is a network of local offices across England and Wales that run and co-ordinate services. The service that covers Barnet (formerly based at Avenue House) has now been combined administratively with that in Brent. In London, a central call centre exists to handle all referrals; conduct a needs assessment; and refer clients seeking help to other agencies, predominantly the local offices. In accordance with national protocols, priority is attached to contacting elderly victims who are at greater risk because they live alone or are isolated from the community, and those who have been involved in violent, racist and sexual crimes or domestic violence. The call centre deals with the daily referrals of non-consent crimes from Scotland Yard by making contact by telephone (instead of by letter, as previously), an approach designed to increase take-up of the service. Local offices are no longer involved in this task, but they remain responsible for contacting victims of serious crimes (domestic and sexual violence; crimes involving young people; and bereavement by homicide), where the victim s consent is required before the case is referred on. In 2009/10, there were 12,723 referrals from Barnet, 6% less than in the previous year, reflecting a downturn in reported crime in the borough and a decision by VS to discontinue accepting referrals categorised as non-crime domestic violence. The breakdown of crimes reported included 3,230 burglaries; 2,964 assaults or wounding; 2,003 cases of theft; and 1,397 incidents of harassment. There were also 103 violent crimes including five homicides and 141 sexual offences. 7,715 victims were given advice or support by telephone compared to 8,345 in 2008/09. With the greater emphasis on contact by telephone, the number of letters sent fell by 17% to 8,597. 503 victims received personal face-to-face support from a volunteer, a similar proportion to previously. 218 cases involved claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, with which help was provided. The greatest demand on the scheme in terms of volume of activity is from victims of (personal) theft, many being elderly people; young mothers with children; or youths who have been the subject of serious threats or harassment, on whose behalf VS often performs an advocacy role. Over 40% of victims of violent crime take up the offer of support. VS invariably provides longerterm help to 120 or so Barnet residents (and their families) each year, in cases of more serious crimes, often for periods of up to a year or more. 60% of these cases involve criminal injuries compensation claims. In 2009/10, compensation of 65,106 was awarded to 23 victims with VS s assistance. The first quarter s figures for 2010/11 show that VS received 2,674 referrals up to 30 June, 4% less than in the equivalent three months of 2009/10. The re-organisation of service delivery in London, amalgamating local offices, has resulted in a reduction of paid staff at the local level. The combined Barnet and Brent operation has the equivalent of 2.5 full-time posts running the main service for victims, comprising two service delivery managers, who lead on dealing with cases of domestic violence, criminal injuries and certain other crimes where trauma counselling may continue over a lengthy period. Much of the one-to-one contact with clients is carried out by volunteers, currently numbering 25, of which five are new recruits, who are trained to rigorous standards set by the national office and include students on university placements.
A new caseworker post (based at the office in Brent) offers specialised support to victims with complex needs across north-west London, including Barnet, commonly advocating on behalf of victims whose cases involve multiple agencies. A homicide team based at VS s London headquarters complements the work of local volunteers in supporting people bereaved by homicide by way of face to face needs assessment; commissioning of services such as counselling; and case-tracking and management. A Witness Service, set up in 2002 in accordance with a Home Office requirement, offers information and support to any (prosecution or defence) witness who requires it at Hendon Magistrates Court. The service is administered by a full-time manager, who supervises a smaller team of trained volunteers. Emphasis is placed on supporting witnesses deemed to be vulnerable, such as those involved in cases of domestic violence, or that have been intimidated, according to government guidelines. The service supported 1,547 people in 2009/10, providing 1,053 familiarisations and 168 pre-trial visits. Although the local administrative base for VS is located outside of Barnet, the volunteer team is co-ordinated from an office at the magistrates court. New outreach locations for Barnet clients have been set up at Burnt Oak and Childs Hill Libraries. A proposal to create further outreach points at safe locations is aimed at reaching out to victims in a cost effective manner; encouraging take up of VS services amongst more isolated communities; and building links to the safer neighbourhood teams and other local agencies that offer practical support. A third party reporting site, VS engages in both multi-agency casework on individual clients and pro-active community safety activities in conjunction with the council and the police to alleviate the fear of crime. These include presentations to key community groups and the delivery of interactive workshops in secondary schools to raise awareness of crime and promote safety amongst young people. The Community Protection Team endorses the value of VS s contribution, both practically and strategically, to community safety and to supporting people who are vulnerable following the trauma of becoming a victim of crime. It operates professionally and efficiently; maintains a high standard of service delivery; and, as a member of the BSCP, plays an important role in helping the council to achieve its strategic community safety targets. In addition to seeking renewal of the council s core funding, the application outlines a case for the creation of a new post of serious crimes co-ordinator to recruit, train and manage specialist volunteers in Barnet and Brent to deal with people affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and hate crime. The proposal will be re-presented if further information requested complies with the terms of start-up funding from this year s grants programme. Quality and equality The work of VS is covered by a national code of practice, which, amongst other things, covers equal access to services and equal opportunities in recruitment/employment, and service standards laid down in the Home Office s Victim s Charter. The merger of local victim support schemes into the national body, a charitable company limited by guarantee, involved the dissolution of individual trustee boards and the handover of their legal and financial responsibilities to the new national body, which has a new governance and management structure. A new performance management system with key performance indicators seeks to monitor consistency; the quality of service delivery; and user satisfaction. Service standards require that at least 50% of referrals are contacted and have their needs assessed within 48 hours.
All staff and volunteers have to pass a five or six-day training course at Victim Support London; an in-house induction; and a formal accreditation process. New training modules embrace restorative justice and child protection legislation. Volunteers are given regular support and one-to-one supervision, and receive further specialist training, including how to deal with more complex cases, such as victims of sexual assault and racial crimes. A volunteers handbook addresses the issues of equality and diversity. VS s management and recruitment procedures have been verified as compliant with Barnet s standards for safeguarding engagement with children, young people and vulnerable adults. The charity operates in accordance with an equality and diversity policy. Equality impact screening and assessments are carried out and publicised for all projects. VS seeks to build and maintain local teams of volunteers that reflect each borough s cultural and ethnic mix, and to facilitate the needs of members of minority communities who may require more intensive support to overcome isolation as victims of crime. Publicity and literature is available in most of the main community languages. Special arrangements are made to see disabled victims in their own homes or at specially arranged venues. Cost and financial need Pending publication of the audited accounts for 2009/10 in November 2010, the latest available accounts for VS are for 2008/09. These show expenditure of 48,616,000 on delivering victim and witness support services across England and Wales; the roll out of Victim Support Plus; and governance and restructuring costs. The accounts reflect the transfer of assets and liabilities of the 77 former local federated schemes to the national charity. 75% of income ( 37m) came from a grant from the Ministry of Justice via OCJR, maintaining a funding arrangement with the former federation. Remaining income is mainly from local government funding and donations. After disregarding restricted and designated reserves, VS had a working contingency of 2,528,000 at 31/3/2009, equivalent to 5.2% of annual turnover. The funding of service delivery at borough level remains unchanged following the merger. The OCJR grant is distributed amongst local offices according to a formula and meet most of their staffing costs, but makes only a modest contribution to overheads. Premises, administrative and one-off costs have to be met from local fundraising. In Barnet s case, this year s OCJR grant ( 104,201) equates to 88% of estimated expenditure. National policy dictates that no charge is made to the victims of crime. Management accounts produced by VS show that there was a deficit of 1,997 on service delivery in Barnet in 2008/09. With the benefit of a one-off award of 3,000 from the Metropolitan Police in 2009/10, the budget for the Barnet operation is shown as having balanced last year. A memorial fund previously held by the Barnet scheme and designated to provide emergency assistance to victims who are ineligible to claim from other sources is ring-fenced by VS to support Barnet residents in such circumstances. The 2010/11 revenue budget for VS in Barnet shows a projected pre-grant shortfall of 14,219. The request is for a grant of 14,225, replicating the award in 2009/10, which maintained an uplift of 750 agreed in 2007/08 in recognition of the growth in the volume of work undertaken, especially in supporting the victims of serious crime. The 2009/10 grant represented 12% of core costs. The grant recommended, to which a 3% efficiency saving has been applied in line with efficiencies being required of third sector organizations elsewhere in the council, is a final
revenue award from the corporate grant budget pending transfer of an equivalent sum to the Environment & Operations Directorate for use in connection with commissioning by its Community Protection Division with effect from April 2011. Grant recommendation, type and conditions 13,798 Project grant One year revenue grant One-off/Start-up grant * Special conditions: None. Target grant outcomes (for monitoring and evaluation) (a) To enable victims of crime to recover from their ordeal with the benefit of emotional support and practical assistance and (b) to reduce the fear of crime and the danger of repeat victimisation through participation in corporate safety and crime reduction strategies. G:\Grants Unit\Reports 2010-11\Victim Support.doc Date: September 2010