Agenda item

To review and contribute to the draft Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy and the relet of the Voluntary and Community Sector support contract.

7.1       The Committee received a report outlining the work of The Voluntary and Community Sector Support Service managed within the Council.  The Committee noted that the service acted as a coordinator between the Council and the large and complex range of organisations that make up Westminster’s Voluntary and Community Sector.  The Committee further noted that a full procurement process had recently been undertaken to secure a new, long term contract for delivery of these important services.

7.2       The Committee welcomed Sarah Mitchell from Heart of the City who outlined the work of her organisation and contributed to the discussion especially regarding Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) and how the Council could encourage businesses (especially small to medium size businesses) to get involved in volunteering within the borough to give back to the community.  The Committee noted how Heart of the City encouraged their organisations to focus on trying to get their responsible business practices to align with their core business strategy so that volunteering was not just seen as an added extra but that it was contributing to their business plan, staff morale and the profit of the business. The Committee considered the huge impact it would have if Westminster based businesses found opportunities to support the voluntary sector in the City through a responsive CSR brokerage Service.

7.3       The Committee discussed that Westminster had a large, diverse and very active Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) which had already contributed to the achievement of a wide range of City for All outcomes and that the sector would have a significant and increasing role in local service delivery in the future.  The Committee then highlighted the need to support employers to develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes and to find creative ways to engage people and businesses and make them aware of how they could contribute to their Communities such as by providing them with information through their Business Rate bills.  The Committee noted that the new contract would make a major contribution to ensuring Westminster had a strong Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) which was fit for the future.

7.4       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community for consideration:

1. The Committee welcomed the work that has been achieved in establishing the Voluntary and Community Sector Support Service.

2. The Committee agreed that the Voluntary Sector played a central role in supporting Westminster’s communities and that the Council had an important role in supporting and acting as a coordinator between the Westminster’s Voluntary and Community Sector.

3. The Committee welcomed the extension of the contract to support the development of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes within businesses based in the City.

4. The Committee highlighted the potential huge impact for the City if Westminster based businesses found opportunities to support the voluntary sector in the City through a responsive CSR brokerage Service.

5. The Committee highlighted the importance of supporting employers in the City to develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes and considered that this be included as part of the contract.

6. The Committee encouraged the Council to look at new ways to engage with businesses and possibly provide them with information about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes through their Business Rate bills.