The Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday 25 January 2023, agreeing to recommendations regarding voluntary and community sector funding and the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Programme, and noting the discontinuation of Phase 2 of the Community Gardens Programme.

Voluntary and Community Sector Funding

The committee agreed with recommendations concerning voluntary and community sector (VCS) funding awarded under delegated authority. Mark Waterman, Senior Voluntary Community Sector Development Officer, explained that the current small grants programme is concluding, with £10,000 reserved for events to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III. Applications for this specific funding will be competitive and reviewed in February. Additionally, the committee noted an emergency grant of £10,000 awarded to the Legal Advice Centre, a partner in the Citizens Advice Bureau Consortium, to provide paralegal support due to unexpected staff leave.

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Programme

The committee approved the revised proposal for the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Programme. Initially an 18-month grant from October 2023 to March 2024, the project will now receive a 12-month grant to align with other council funding programmes, including the local community fund. This adjustment will allow for a review of infrastructure grants and the exploration of new funding options within the Emerge Community Programme. The approval also extends the project for a further 12 months, from October 2022 to September 2023, to support the delivery of a volunteer hub. This hub aims to assist residents in their recovery process, improve employment prospects, increase the number of Black and Asian volunteers, and provide support for city writing and job skills.

Community Gardens Programme

The committee noted the closure of Phase 2 of the Community Gardens Programme. Afra Ali, Regeneration Manager, presented the closure report, explaining that Phase 1 involved direct delivery of improvements to nine identified sites, with three completed, three in progress, and three discontinued. Phase 2 was intended to appoint a third-party grant-giving organisation to administer funding. However, following a review of the LIFT programme in August 2022, it was recommended not to proceed with launching Phase 2. This decision was made to allow for a more considered approach to grant spending, ensuring greater value for money and alignment with strategic priorities. The Corporate Director of Place accepted this recommendation, and the contract with the grant-delivery organisation will be terminated without financial penalties, as per Clause 9 of the contract terms. The LIFT Working Group will present a report to Cabinet to ratify this decision. Councillor Ohid Ahmed sought clarification on whether the discontinuation of Phase 2 was due to issues with Phase 1 delivery. Ms. Ali clarified that Phase 1 had been successful in its delivery aspects, and the decision for Phase 2 was based on a broader review of grant administration to ensure more impactful and strategically aligned funding. The committee agreed to note these developments, with the recommendation to be clearly set out in the report.