HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-09-046 - Community Investment Strategy - Tier 1 Value for Money Audits - SPCKWREPORT
REPORT TO:
Community Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
September 14, 2009
SUBMITTED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
PREPARED BY:
Ingrid Pregel, Manager, Cultural Development (Ext. 3383)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
N/A
DATE OF REPORT: August 6, 2009
REPORT NO.:
CSD-09-046
SUBJECT:
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT STRATEGY TIER 1 VALUE
FOR MONEY AUDITS FOLLOW UP - SOCIAL PLANNING
COUNCIL OF KITCHENER-WATERLOO
RECOMMENDATION:
That notice be given to Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo (SPCKW) that
effective January 1, 2010 it will receive an annual grant in the amount of $43,000 to
support the Community Information Centre; and further,
That staff be instructed to consider the priorities of all Tier 1 grant recipients for 2010,
including Festival of Neighbourhoods, and make recommendations to Council to allocate
the budget amount in the 2010 Tier 1 grants pool, including the $43,000 reallocated from
the SPCKW Tier 1 grant, during the 2010 budget approval process.
BACKGROUND:
At its August 11, 2008 meeting Council approved report CSD-08-070 that provided funding
recommendations for 10 annual grant recipients in Table A: Funding Recommendations for
Existing Annual Grant Recipients Who Do Not Meet Tier 1 Criteria. The recommendation for
Leadership Waterloo Region and Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo was “Value for
money review to be done in 2009 by CoK internal auditor”. Value for money reviews were
completed and report CSD-09-036 was considered by Council. Staff was instructed to hold
further dialogue with Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo in respect to the timing of
the proposed reduction in grant funds and how the City will partner with the SPCKW going
forward. This report presents the results of this dialogue.
REPORT:
Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo
provides the Community Information Centre
and a variety of social planning services.
Policy I-525 Community Investment approved by Council on November 24, 2008 provides the
rationale for Tier 1 grants. In part the policy states “… Tier 1, called foundational or core
services, comprise services that are considered by the community to be essential to a healthy
and vibrant community and are provided by longstanding, credible organizations.”
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Community Services staff believe the community expects access to a Community Information
Centre as part of the community’s core services. Staff recommends the City enter into an
agreement with the SPCKW annually to support the Community Information Centre. An amount
of $43,000 is recommended for the year 2010, to come into effect beginning January 1, 2010.
The remaining portion of the City’s grant has supported social planning work. Staff
acknowledges the importance of social planning in our community and also appreciates that this
function is the responsibility of the Regional Municipality in support of its social service mandate.
One of the objectives of the Community Investment Strategy project was to ensure City of
Kitchener grants are focused on services that are the City’s core responsibility. Policy I-525
Community Investment approved by Council on November 24, 2008 provides the rationale for
Tier 1 grants. In part the policy states “….must be the responsibility of the City of Kitchener, i.e.
not be the responsibility of other levels of government”.
During the additional dialogue between staff and SPCKW, SPCKW provided further details on
how the City of Kitchener’s Tier 1 grant has been allocated among the organization’s programs
and services historically. Of the various activities that fall broadly under a category SPCKW
calls “Social Planning and Community Information Development” staff has identified Festival of
Neighbourhoods as an important program focused on City of Kitchener neighbourhoods that is
closely aligned with Council’s priorities.
To disentangle the funding path for City grants and provide a clear accountability, staff
recommends providing resources directly to Festival of Neighbourhoods rather than channelling
funds through SPCKW.
Staff will not be in a position to recommend an additional grant for Festival of Neighbourhoods
for 2010 until all the research with Tier 1 grants is complete and all grant amounts can be
considered against the broader context of all community group needs in relation to Council’s
priorities. Therefore staff recommends returning to Council with a recommendation for a grant
amount for Festival of Neighbourhoods for 2010 during the annual Tier 1 grants approval cycle.
Although we appreciate the result may not be more investment into Festival of Neighbourhoods
than is currently the case, it would certainly not be less.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Savings in the amount of $43,000 (2009 dollars) in the Tier 1 Community Grants budget will
result beginning January 2010 because SPCKW’s grant will be reduced by $43,000 (2009
dollars). An additional $43,000 (2009 dollars) will be available in the Tier 1 Community Grants
budget for allocation to Tier 1 community grant groups, including Festival of Neighbourhoods.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Senior staff and Board Chair of Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo have received a
copy of this staff report and have had the opportunity to ask questions and points for clarification
from City staff.
CONCLUSION:
The Community Grants program plays a key role in the Community Investment strategy of the
City. The recommendations contained in this report are part of the ongoing process to align
grants and other support for not for profit groups with Council’s priorities and provide
consistency in the applications of the Community Investment Policy.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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