Decision details

To seek approval to extend the existing service level agreement with Community Action Fareham, for one year, pending the outcome of the Hampshire County Council review of voluntary and community sector funding.

Community Action Fareham (CAF) is a Council for Voluntary Services (CVS). As Fareham's local CVS, CAF works for the benefit of Fareham based residents, community groups and organisations. They offer support to a range of community organisations across a range of issues, this includes the provision of services and activities to meet the needs of local residents.

CAF has held a service level agreement with the Council, with funding for the delivery of core services, since 1995. Funding for core services is also provided by Hampshire County Council (HCC). In addition to the core services, CAF also operates other services such as Community Transport, Dial a Ride, Home Help Service, Shopmobility and the Volunteer Centre (VC), as well as hosting a number of smaller organisations at their offices.

A review of funding to support future capacity in the voluntary and community sectors in Hampshire is currently being undertaken by HCC. The review may result in changes to the way that funding is allocated to the voluntary sector by HCC in the future.

The existing SLA with the Council ceases on 31 March 2013 but the options for future funding by HCC are not expected until April/May 2013. The report proposes that the current SLA be extended, with some revisions to key objectives, for a further 12 months pending the outcome of the review.

(a)                Agree to extend the current SLA with Community Action Fareham by one year until 31 March 2014;

(b)                Agree the revised key objectives as detailed in paragraph 25;

(c)                Agree option B, to reduce the current level of core funding by 4% as recommended by the Leisure & Community Policy Development and Review Panel.