To be advised of the outcome of a joint review of third sector support and development services; to approve the principles for future delivery and delegate authority to officers to deliver the proposal, in conjunction with relevant voluntary and community organisations.

The Director of Resources, as chairman of the review, presented the report to Cabinet.  The Director referred to the key factors for consideration as set out on page 128 of the report and to the issue of the Big Society approach and the delivering of solutions through the civil society, which was a key element of the new coalition government. 

The Director referred to:

• The objectives of the review and the need for the sharing of back office functions for services, which would provide greater collaboration and value for money.
• The views of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee, which referred to the potential loss of skills of individual organisations and the possible loss of volunteers.
• Having one single local solution for Herefordshire, sharing services, providing a flexible outreach provision.
• Try to bring together a number of organisations and Council resources to better serve the people of the County.
• All proposals to be scrutinised by the third sector board.
• Cabinet welcomed the proposals and agreed they would be beneficial to all organisations concerned.

Cabinet thanked officers and partner organisations for the work they had done on the report, which would ensure that public money was spent wisely.

RESOLVED

That:               a)         the outcome of the review be noted;

                     b)         the principle of a single local solution to deliver support services to front line community and voluntary organisations, together with a shared services approach to back office functions, be approved; and

                     c)         authority be delegated to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Director of Sustainable Communities, to negotiate and implement a single delivery arrangement in accordance with the agreed principle.