Purpose

To approve the Communities Strategy

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 

That
the Executive:

 

a)   
Approved the Communities Strategy for
adoption;
 

b)   
Approved the proposed VCSE Strategic
grants framework and the proposed VCSE Infrastructure support
arrangements for the period 2024-2027.
 

c)   
Delegated authority to the Executive Member for
Housing, Communities and Levelling Up, in consultation with the
Director of Public Health and Wellbeing to procure the new VCSE
Infrastructure support contract and undertake any activities
required to deliver this strategy. 
 
 

Reasons for
Recommendations:

·       
The previous
strategic VCSE grant arrangements inherited from sovereign councils
end on 31st March 2024 (some have been in place since
2017, pre-Covid and pre-North Northamptonshire Council) and new
arrangements are required;

·       
The previous
arrangements for VCSE infrastructure support also come to an end on
31st March 2024 and new, more robust, arrangements are
required;

·       
There has been a huge
shift in the strategic context within which the Council and the
VCSE are now working, largely due to the development of the
Integrated Care System (ICS) and the new Place-based delivery
models, including the Council’s Levelling Up agendas for its
‘left behind’ neighbourhoods, all of which have already
resulted in a strengthened collaboration and governance for the
VCSE;

·       
The Place-based
delivery models have also brought about emerging priorities from
the new Community Wellbeing Forums and Local Area Partnerships
(LAPs), and the emergence of the new VCSE-led, whole-system, early
intervention service, Support North Northants (SNN), which is
providing evidence of need on the ground in communities;

·       
The work undertaken
by the Northamptonshire County Association for Local Councils
(NCALC) between 2021 and 2023 which reported on the relationship
between Principal and Local Councils and included approaches to
devolution of assets and services.

·       
In summary a
Communities Strategy is required to set out the Council’s
approach to working with and investing in the VCSE within the
context of these strategic contexts.

 
Alternative Options
Considered:
·      
The alternative option would be to not
have a Communities Strategy.  However,
this would not be a recommended approach as the Strategy sets out
how the Council wishes to work with the VCSE, as equal partners,
recognising the valuable role the sector plays in supporting the
communities of North Northamptonshire.

 
·      
It also identifies the key themes for the
new VCSE Infrastructure contract and lays the foundation for the
Council’s new VCSE strategic grants programme, both of which
are needed to replace legacy arrangements inherited by the Council
in 2021. Without the Strategy the VCSE would not have reassurance
about future funding opportunities, nor about the critical support
it has stated it requires moving forward, to help the sector to
grow, become more sustainable and to attract more inward investment
into North Northamptonshire, for the benefit of our
communities.
 
·      
A number of options were considered as
part of the Council’s budget setting for 2024-25, in relation
to the future funding envelope for the VCSE Strategic grants from
1st April 2024. This included removing all funding and
ceasing the programme, to a variety of proposals which might result
in the funding being reduced to a greater or lesser extent.
Ultimately the Council’s Executive are committed to retaining
the funding at the same levels as before, £671,771, whilst
recognising that new grant arrangements would be required to
replace those that are expiring on 31st March
2024.
 
·      
In summary, not having a Communities
Strategy could result in missed opportunities for VCSE
organisations to collaborate effectively with one another to share
knowledge, expertise and resource, and for the Council to work in
effective strategic and operational partnerships with the hundreds
of VCSE organisations which operate locally and add so much
economic and social value to the North Northamptonshire economy and
social fabric.