Charity grants face axe threat

Grants to charities could cease by April, next year, as Oldham Council commissions services from them instead.

More than £1 million a year is currently granted to 24 organisations from the Priority Programme Fund (PPF), after the council decided only charities and voluntary groups which matched its targets would be helped.

They range from the Alt, Roundthorn and Abbeyhills Community Association, to Westwood and Coldhurst Women’s Association.

Now the Oldham Partnership, which is made up of the council, police, health, business, charity and voluntary groups, wants to stop making grants from March 31, 2009.

The partnership wants to create a bigger pot of PPF money combined with area- based grants and use the money to commission services.

Charities and voluntary groups will be given three- year contracts, which it says will allow for stability and forward planning.

There will also be greater control of finances and outcomes, as well as economies of scale.

Consultation will be held before the changes are made and councillors will call for evidence about the impact on the new way of working at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The board meets on Tuesday to decide if it will support the new commissioning scheme.

If it gets their backing, the commissioning framework will be published in September and groups will hear if they have been successful by October, with contracts awarded in December or early January, 2009.