Decision
Cabinet agreed:-
(a) The
continued provision of the ‘information, advice and guidance’ service for
residents at the current financial rate for a 5-year term to offer stability..
Extension of the current grant for a further 6 months 1st April – 30th
September 2021 to enable a procurement exercise to be undertaken. The new
contract to begin on 1st October 2021
(b) The
continued provision of an arts and culture support service at the current
financial rate for a 5-year term. Extension of the current grant for a further
6 months 1st April – 30th September 2021 to enable a
procurement exercise to be undertaken. The new contract to begin on 1st
October 2021.
(c) The
continued provision of support services to the social voluntary community
sector at the current financial rate for a 5-year term. This will be tendered
as one contract for bidding organisations to work in partnership to deliver the
support for the rest of the social voluntary community sector. Extension of the
current grant recipients for a further 6 months 1st April – 30th
September 2021 to enable a procurement exercise to be undertaken. The new
contract to begin on 1st October 2021.
(d) The
continued commissioned support of the museums and community centres in which
Dorset Council have a reversionary interest at the current financial rate for a
period of 1 year from 1st April 2021 to be considered within the
wider council buildings and assets review.
(f) A
discretionary outcome-based fund to be introduced to replace all historical
grant programmes offered by Dorset Council. Criteria to be modified in
accordance to the comments made in the consultation and agreed with the Cabinet
Portfolio Holder.
Reason for Decision
1. The consultation has
evidenced the value and very strong level of support for the information,
advice and guidance service for residents. Due to the value of the contract,
there is a requirement to procure the service.
The timescales involved in undertaking an open and transparent procurement
exercise will necessitate the need to extend the existing contract to allow
sufficient time for this to be completed.
2. The
consultation has evidenced the value and very strong level of support for the
arts support service. Due to the value of the contract, there is a requirement
to procure the service. The timescales
involved in undertaking an open and transparent procurement exercise will
necessitate the need to extend the existing contract to allow sufficient time
for this to be completed.
3. The
consultation has evidenced the value and very strong level of support for the
social VCS support service. Due to the value of the contract, there is a
requirement to procure the service. The
timescales involved in undertaking an open and transparent procurement exercise
will necessitate the need to extend the existing contract to allow sufficient
time for this to be completed. It is
acknowledged that the current organisations worked incredibly effectively
together before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving joint outcomes.
4. The
consultation has evidenced a strong level of support for the museums and
community centres in which the council has a reversionary interest. However,
given that the council is currently undertaking a full review of its assets and
buildings, it would be prudent to agree an initial 1-year extension to allow
for these to form part of the wider review.
5. The consultation
has evidenced a strong level of support for flexible funding to enable
community organisations to identify and resolve local community needs. The discretionary
outcome-based grants will continue to provide vital support to organisations
that provide outcome-based evidence for delivery of Council Plan priorities.
These will be made available by 31st December to give current grant
recipients the opportunity to secure funding before the financial year end.