DN 432896 VCSE Infrastructure Sector Support Service Grant

the provision of practical and strategic support to facilitate a capable, collaborative, diverse

and influential voluntary, community and social enterprise sector across North Yorkshire

REPORT TO: Neil Irving, Assistant Director, Policy, Partnerships and Communities

DECISION DATE: 10 January 2023

SUPPORTING ANNEX; None

PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended the Authority approves the 24-month extension as

permitted in the original agreement for the grant and the extended contract to end 31st March 2025. This covers the LGR period and therefore allows the Authority time to establish requirements going forward for the new Council.

BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and the North Yorkshire Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) provide a grant to support their strategic outcomes for the Voluntary & Community Sector Enterprises (VCSE) sector in North Yorkshire. The Council holds the budget and monitors the grant on behalf of the ICBs.

There are more than 4,000 VCSE sector organisations in North Yorkshire, providing a broad range of local services furthering the diversity and richness of local life and contributing to improved health, economic and social outcomes for local people.

The supplier acts as a strategic partner to represent the VCSE sector, influence external policy makers and funders, and enable practical and strategic support to facilitate a collaborative and diverse VCSE sector across North Yorkshire. 

The supplier is Community First Yorkshire contracted by way of a Grant Agreement.

The initial term of the grant contract was 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for 2 years from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025. 

LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE

The grant provides for an Expiry Date of 31st March 2023 unless the Agreement is extended and the Council may extend the Agreement for a further period of up to two (2) years by giving not less than two (2) months’ notice in writing to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall apply throughout any such extended period.

Legal advice from NYCC Legal Services and Procurement and Contract Management Service has been sought and on 28 July 2022 Legal Services have confirmed, following consideration at the Procurement Assurance Board, that the extension can proceed.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Authority approves the extension of the grant agreement.