Item 6 - Thematic Review: No Recourse to Public Funds (G22/11)

Summary    

In February 2017 Grants Committee members agreed to a revised commissioning performance management framework to manage the London Councils 2017-21 Grants Programme. To enable the Grants Committee to examine issues that affect a number of the London Councils priorities the framework includes thematic reviews as part of the reporting timetable. 
This report is the first of these thematic reviews and focuses on the issues of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). This topic was selected by members given the large impact this issue has on local authorities in London. 
The report focuses on the policy work that London Councils has undertaken on behalf of the boroughs, as well as the impact on the Grants Programme. Ashiana, one of the 2017-21 providers, will deliver a presentation highlighting some of the issues beneficiaries with NRPF face. 

Recommendations    

The Grants Committee  is asked 
-    Extend a thank you to the representative from Ashiana for providing the first thematic review presentation, as well as the beneficiary presenting her story.
-    Agree the means by which they would like to receive information regarding NRPF going forward. Officers suggest that providers are asked (where possible) to monitor the numbers of people benefitting from their services, with NRPF, and to provide this in the annual return, which can be included for members as part of the annual equalities audit.
-    Agree to share this report and the project information in the 2017-21 report on this agenda, with their local authority to ensure that officers are aware of the support available regarding NRPF through the programme. 
-    Note the work being undertaken by London Councils to improve understanding of the financial pressure on boroughs generated by the need to support clients with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) as outlined in Section Two.