Agenda and decisions

Councillor Lynne Doherty

Resolved that: approval was granted for the delivery plan for the allocation of £1,389,699 Household Support Fund grant for 2023/24 including the following funding allocations:

·         Allocates Free School Meal vouchers for eligible children for £3 per day across 7 weeks for 2023/24.  This will include 4 weeks in summer 2023, 2 weeks at Christmas 2023 and 1 week at Easter 2024.  Provision is being made to cover up to 4,000 children per holiday based on previous years data.

·         Set aside £40,000 for targeted delivery with a view to increasing the level of uptake by pensioners.  This is intended to be delivered working with charities or registered housing providers subject to demand and deliverability. 

·         To allocate up to £790,000 to support the main element of delivery of the HSF.  It is proposed that of this sum, £50,000 will be set aside for delivery via charitable partners, with a view to increasing uptake and secure additional match funding opportunities.

·         Up to 10% eligible administration costs to include funding staff to administer and deliver the scheme.  It is proposed that an ongoing communications plan will accompany the scheme in order to promote funds to public and other agencies to ensure that the funds are supporting those most in need.

This decision is not subject to call in; therefore it will be implemented immediately.