Purpose

Approval of the Citizen's Advice South West
Surrey Grant 2025-26 of £250,000.00

Content

Decision:
Award a grant of £250,000 to CASWS for a period of 12
months to 31 March 2026 whilst a grant review is
undertaken.
Reason(s):

1.           
CASWS
provides invaluable advice to residents of Guildford and acts as a
strategic partner of Guildford Borough Council helping support
their most vulnerable residents.

2.           
The
provisional local government finance settlement for 2025/26 was
extremely poor for most District and Borough Councils, with most,
including Guildford Borough Council, receiving no increase in their
funding. This means that the Council’s funding for 2025-26
will remain at the same level as 2024-25, even after an increase in
Council Tax revenues.  The impact of the
settlement is that there is no new funding available to meet the
cost of pay awards, demand and inflationary pressures.

3.           
To ensure
that the Council can continue to deliver its strategic objectives
within its budget, over 2025/26 all Council grants will be
reviewed, including a review of the grant with CASWS. 

4.           
In order
to not disrupt the current community, offer funded by the Council,
and enable CASWS to prepare for a grant review in 2026/27, it is
recommended the current grant of £250,000 per year will be
extended for one further year until 31 March 2026 so that a further
grant of £250,000 is provided to CASWS.

5.           
To ensure
value for money, the grant agreement for 2025/26 will be
strengthened so that:

·       
The
purpose of the grant is explicitly for the benefit of Guildford
residents, particularly those from less advantaged
communities. 

·       
There is
clawback provision for any underspend. 

·       
The
Council can at its sole discretion change the activities supported
by the grant, the payment schedule, or removing activities from the
list of activities that the grant supports.  

·       
The
Council can require the prompt repayment of any
overpayment,

·       
CASWS is
the only entity that can use the grant. 
We
propose to include in the grant agreement requirements that the
CASWS demonstrates how the grant is being used by the CASWS to work
as a strategic partner, demonstrating how the grant will enable the
CASWS to support residents of Guildford and help the Council meet
its corporate objectives, particularly the following areas :

·       
Help
improve services to residents across
Guildford Borough, which may include working with wider system
partners, collaborating with teams across the Council and community
engagement events to enable people to receive information and
advice.

·       
Support
the development of the local voluntary,
community and faith sector.

·       
Working
with the Council, in providing support
for homelessness prevention and regulation of private
landlords.

·       
 Help households with rent
arrears.

·       
Support
our strategic outcomes for Guildford, in
particular a more inclusive borough and a more prosperous
borough. 
Other options considered and rejected by the
Executive:
Option 1: Not continue funding
Option 2: Reduce funding
Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or
lead councillors and any dispensation granted:
None.