Decision details

•A significant amount of work was done to reshape the IAG Grant in 2019 implementing a ‘step-change’ towards a ‘whole system’ model of integrated advice services, a referrer/citizen friendly system (see Appendix A and Ab)
•The Cabinet meeting on 3rd March 2020 approved the extension of the grant funding plan for one year to provide an opportunity to review the grant arrangement and align it with the city council strategic approach to advice and ethical debt (see Appendix B)
•This wider council project has not progressed due to Covid -19 and limited resource
•Current grant arrangements are working well, delivering benefits to Bristol Citizens and driving strategic improvements in the advice sector (see Appendix C)
•The Cabinet meeting on 3rd March approved the option to extend the current grant for a further two and a half years to 30th April 2024
•Extension of the current grant will provide stability to the advice sector at a time of high demand and allow time for Bristol City Council time to consider the strategic fit of the grant in the future.

Extension of the IAG Grant for IAG services from 1st November 2021- 30th April 2024

•Running new grant process- requires resources we do not have available due to BIF, resource intensive for the sector and would leave advice services in flux at a time of high need
•Stop/ cut advice grant – Advice services support some of the councils most vulnerable citizens at a time where demand for advice services is high. Advice services leverage against Bristol City Council grant monies any cut therefore has a significant cumulative impact