Safer London foundation - award of grant for 2007/08

Report: 5
Date: 6 December 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

The Committee is asked to confirm a grant of £175,000 to the Safer London Foundation for the year 2007/8 towards their core costs.

A. Recommendations

That

1. a grant of £175,000 is awarded to the Safer London Foundation for the year 2007/8; and that an indicative allocation £100,000 is confirmed for 2008/9; and

2. payment of the grant for 2007/8 is subject to submission of approved and audited accounts for 2006/7.

B. Supporting information

1. The Safer London Foundation was set up by the MPA and MPS as a charitable trust, with the object of securing funds to support community safety and crime reduction projects at local level. Lord Harris and the Deputy Commissioner are Trustees, amongst others.

2. In December 2006, this Committee considered an application by the Safer London Foundation for a grant of £250,000 a year for three years commencing 2006/7 to cover their core costs, so that all other money raised by them could be directed to fund or provide support for community projects. The Committee resolved that for 2006/7 the sum of £236,000 be awarded in grant aid, with an indicative allocation of £175,000 for 2007/8 and £100,000 for 2008/9, in expectation that in 2009/10 the Foundation will be self-financing. The award of grant was subject to the Foundation submitting twice yearly reports to the MPA on its work programme and progress in fund raising, to enable the MPA to monitor the movement towards self financing status and the general pace and effectiveness of the SLF Work Programme; and to the Foundation demonstrating in its programme for 2007/8 how it would work with the MPA and MPS to build community capacity at Safer Neighbourhood Panel level. The grant was also subject to SLF submitting audited accounts for 2005/6.

3. Accounts for 2005/6 were submitted and were satisfactory. The grant for 2006/7 was accordingly paid.

4. This report asks the committee to approve the grant for 2007/8, and to confirm the indicative allocation for 2008/9.

5. The Foundation has submitted draft accounts for 2006/7 (its financial year is from June to May). These show that the MPA’s grant covered core administration costs as intended, and that the Foundation made grants totalling £437,000 during the year to 43 projects, in sums ranging from £300 to £35,000. At the end of May 2007, the Foundation held £758,000 in charitable funds. The grant for 2007/8 should be subject to production of approved and audited accounts for 2006/7.

6. During 2007/8, the Foundation has, as requested, worked with the MPA and MPS to build community capacity at Safer Neighbourhood Panel level, by developing and piloting a programme for briefing and training Chairs of SN Panels. This has been piloted in four boroughs to date and participant feedback has been good. Currently, the pilots are being evaluated, and a report will come to this committee in due course outlining options for extending the programme across London.

7. A report of the activities of SLF, submitted by the Chief Executive, is attached as Appendix 1

C. Race and equality impact

The Foundation and the Grants Committee have full regard to equality and diversity factors in their decisions about support and funding provided to local organisations

D. Financial implications

The grant for 2007/8 can be funded from money held in the Police Property Act reserves.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: David Riddle

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback