Resolved:
That Councillor Richard Jackson be appointed as Chair in the absence of Councillor Susan Smith.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S. Smith (Chair), Beswick, Emsley and Sheerin, Naomi Burke (Healthwatch Rochdale), Emma Salloway (Neighbourhood Cohesion & Community Centres Engagement Officer, RBC) and Ghulam Shahzad (Rochdale Environmental Action Group).

To consider the Minutes of the Voluntary Sector Partnership meeting held on Thursday 21 September 2023.

Resolved:
That the Minutes of the Voluntary Sector Partnership meeting held on 21 September 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a presentation of the Public Health Development Manager.

A presentation was received by the Partnership from the Public Health Development Manager which gave an insight into the Household Support Fund.

Members were informed that the fund was a nationwide provision announced by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in August 2020. The fund aimed to provide emergency assistance to households that were struggling and to those most in need over the winter period.

The Rochdale Borough Council Household Fund was launched in October 2020 utilising the DEFRA grant. Circa £4.7 million had been received per year since 2020 to provide support to households, such as through food vouchers for low-income families and energy cost cover for older people.

The Council worked with partners across the borough, including the voluntary sector, community groups and charities, to ensure that those most in need received the targeted assistance.

A further round of the Household Fund was announced in March 2023, of which Rochdale Borough received £4,674,768. An additional £1 million in council funding was allocated to voluntary sector partners who provided food banks, food clubs and food pantries to further support households to address the cost of living crisis. However, it was highlighted as a concern that the Household Fund was only currently planned to continue until the end of March 2024.

There were concerns that the Holiday Activities Fund, which provided free school holiday activities and e-vouchers during the school holidays, was also only funded by the Department of Education until the end of 2024. The scheme supported nearly 7,000 children from low-income families across the borough who were eligible for free school meals.

It was noted by the Public Health Development Manager that the loss of the programmes provided a significant risk to families, but also to the wider system that would be forced to manage the risks.

A ‘Risks and Exit Strategy’ had been produced to help reduce the knock-on effects if the funding was to end. The Council would liaise with schools and letters would be addressed to both affected families and older people that detailed alternative options for food support and grants from energy providers.

The Public Health Development Manager also informed Members that the borough losing the scheme could result in a number of residents in fuel poverty over winter. The Council would work closely with colleagues in strategic housing and partners in Groundwork to establish whether current funding to help with home improvements could be utilised.

To minimise the risks associated with the end of the scheme, it was recommended that the exit strategy be implemented by the Council from January 2024, that the Council discuss ways in which it can work in partnership with others to prevent associated risks occurring, and that the government be lobbied to reappraise the decision to end the Household Support Fund.

Members noted that it would be beneficial for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to receive local breakdown data from Public Health in relation to households that had previously  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To consider a presentation from Action Together on progressing strategic bids with Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.

The Partnership received a presentation from the Rochdale Director for Action Together that explained strategic bidding and explored the role of Voluntary Sector Partnership in supporting strategic bidding opportunities.

Members were informed that strategic bidding was the process of identifying, applying for and securing funding opportunities that met the values, mission and goals of an organisation or partnership.

The key aspects for successful strategic bidding were noted and included understanding the funding landscape, business planning, developing strategic partnerships, designing and costing a proposal, and bid writing.

Co-design and participation were essential when applying for opportunities, as well as a strong evidence base, business case and having outcome measures outlined. Opportunities could be applied for individually or by forming a strategic partnership.

It was noted that it was agreed in January 2023 that Voluntary Sector Partnership would focus on forming partnerships that worked collaboratively to spot opportunities and develop strategic bids that supported Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector (VCFSE) activity across the borough.

Action Together had worked with the Council to identify strategic bidding opportunities, including work with the Adult Social Care team (using Better Care funding and national Winter Pressures funding) and the launch of Home from Hospital Grants specifically for VCFSE groups. Work had also been completed with the Economy and Skills team to maximise opportunities with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Multiplier grant.

The Partnership considered any future opportunities that the Council were aware of, what the Council could offer when opportunities arose, and how the Council could ensure that bureaucracy around decision making did not get in the way of strategic bidding opportunities.

Members noted that establishing relationships with the relevant Council Officers would aid in achieving long term plans. Openness, transparency and efficient communication between the Council and VCFSE organisations would also be beneficial. However, concerns were raised that the VCFSE should not rely on the Council alone to achieve certain funding, but through the partnership working co-operatively.

Resolved:

1.    That the presentation be noted;

2.    That the Head of Planning and Improvement (Public Health) be invited to attend a future meeting of Voluntary Sector Partnership to discuss potential ways in which the voluntary sector could receive public sector funding.