To approve withdrawal of funding support for infrastructure support services for parish councils (provided by Herefordshire Association of Local Councils) and infrastructure support services to the Voluntary and Community Sector, (currently provided by Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Services (Hvoss)). 

The Cabinet Member, Corporate Services introduced the report of the Sustainable Communities Manager proposing withdrawal of funding support for infrastructure support services for parish councils, currently provided by Herefordshire Association of Local Councils, and infrastructure support services to the Voluntary and Community Sector, currently provided by Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Services (Hvoss). Attention was drawn to an error in the response to the budget consultation appended to the following budget report which was misleading in regard to the funding proposals for Hvoss and Cllr Morgan apologised for this error.

In response to queries raised by Members in attendance the following observations were made:

• Clarification would be sought regarding any unpublished organisational responses to the budget consultation
• In house strategic commissioning capability for communities and volunteers including support and co-ordination was being developed within the adult wellbeing directorate

RESOLVED:  That

(a)  the Service Level Agreement is not renewed for Herefordshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) with effect from 1st April 2014, leading to a saving of £3,000 in 2014/15; and

(b)  withdrawal of dedicated funding for infrastructure support services to the Voluntary and Community Sector when current contract with Herefordshire Voluntary Organisation’s Support Services (Hvoss) ceases on 31st July 2014, leading to a saving of £97,000 in 2014/5 and a further £38,500 in 2015/16.