RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet agrees that a future Strategic Grants programme is based on a commissioning approach with specifications drawn up in consultation with the voluntary sector and partners (section 3.7).

2.    That Cabinet ask officers to look at other departmental grants relating to information, advice and voluntary sector support services and to speak to partners with a view to bringing together resources into a single commissioning grant pot (section 3.4).

3.    That Cabinet note that this approach could not be effectively put in place by the end of the current Strategic Partner Grants programme and therefore to agree to roll forward the current programme with existing providers at the current funding level into 2018/19 (section 3.8).

4.    Funding remains at current levels for the next 3 financial years 2018/19 - 21 but with the intention to support Strategic Partners to have a long term sustainable funding plan in place (section 3.9).