Members were aware that Local Government was increasingly looking to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) as a strategic partner to help support stronger, more cohesive communities, which would lead to improved health and well-being, and contribute to a decrease on the demand on public services.

Prevention and early intervention were recognized as instrumental steps in addressing health, social or public safety issues before they became so significant that they required input from public agencies. At the same time, all public agencies were looking at innovative ways in which to work in a climate of reducing resources and a challenging financial environment that would continue for some time. In times of decreasing resources, a focus on acute need and statutory duty was naturally emphasised, thus resulting in a call for more collaboration with the voluntary and community sector on prevention and early intervention programmes.

The Community Resilience Fund (CRF) had been set up as an endowment fund to provide a sustainable income stream to the Voluntary and Community sector (VCS) in Essex. The Fund would support the VCS to develop the abilities of communities, families and individuals to help themselves and each other.  The Essex Community Foundation would  be managing the Community Resilience Fund (CRF)  and was asking all city, borough and unitary authorities to each commit to £20,000 annually for the next five years in order to build a substantial endowment fund over this time.

Members expressed concerns regarding the way in which the fund would benefit Brentwood residents and requested further clarification before they made their decision.

Cllr Parker MOVED and Cllr Mrs Coe SECONDED an amendment to the recommendations as follows:

That Members agree to support in principle to the financial commitment of £20,000 per annum over the next five years (2015/16-2019/20) subject to final approval through the budget setting process and :

(a)  Provision of full details of how the Fund would benefit Brentwood

(b)  Provision of full details of the administration of the Fund.

Following a full discussion Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mrs Squirrell SECONDED that consideration of the item be deferred pending provision of further clarification of the initiative.  Cllr Parker and Cllr Mrs Coe were  in agreement and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that the item be deferred for consideration at a future meeting.