Issue - meetings

Cllr Stephen Davies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, sought Cabinet approval for the commissioning of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

Subject to amendment at the meeting and clarification of the District Lead Organisations as Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswolds District Council, Forest Voluntary Action Forum, The Venture White City, Stroud District Council and Young Gloucestershire, and

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the allocation of £1,615,710 in funding received by the council from the Department for Education (“DfE”) pursuant to a Section 31 Grant Determination for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (“HAF”) 2023 -2024 No: 31/6391 (the “HAF 2023-2024 Funding”) to the provision of the council’s HAF Programme, comprising the provision of holiday activities; food; family support; nutritional education, and such other related support as may be required, during the Spring, Summer and Winter school holiday periods as follows:

1.1 £1,263,045 shall, on the basis set out in Annex One to this report, be apportioned in the period 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024 to providing support to children and families in each of Gloucestershire’s districts. Funding will be distributed in proportion to (a) the number of children and young people who are eligible to receive Free School Meals (“FSM”) in each district; (b) the rurality of each district and c) the number of children and young people with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) in each district. Such funding will be used by council appointed organisations to meet the requirements of such HAF Programme in line with relevant funding guidance from the DfE.

1.2 £161,571 (i.e., 10% of the HAF 2023 -2024 Funding) shall be utilised, in the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024, in support of the business and logistical processes that are essential for delivery of the HAF Programme. Such funding will be used by the council to ensure the effective and timely delivery of the HAF Programme across Gloucestershire.

1.3 £191,094 shall be allocated, in the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024, to the delivery, by council appointed organisations, of any HAF Programme deliverables that are required to address gaps and shortfalls that may exist in relation to the HAF Programme deliverables procured under Recommendation 1.1 above. Such HAF Programme deliverables shall be delivered in accordance with relevant DfE funding guidance.

Save for the HAF 2023-2024 Funding to be allocated to District Leads on the basis set out in Annex One hereto (who were awarded 3-year contracts commencing 29th July 2022 under the under the HAF Modified Framework Agreement), the opportunity for organisations to receive the funding described in this Recommendation 1 will be advertised and made available on the basis described in Recommendation 3 below under the council’s HAF Modified Framework Agreement that was established in May 2022 pursuant to a Cabinet Decision dated 23^rd February 2022, for the purpose of engaging public, voluntary and private  ...  view the full decision text for item 9

Cllr Stephen Davies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, sought Cabinet approval for the commissioning of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

In December 2020, the Government announced the expansion of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, (HAF), as a national programme from April 2021 from which to support children and young people eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). The programme consists of six weeks of services spread out over the main school holidays, (one week in the spring, four weeks during the summer and a final week during the winter school holidays). During 2021, Gloucestershire County Council, working with District Lead Organisations and local providers, successfully delivered the programme.

In the Comprehensive Spending Review October 2021, the Government announced the continuation of the programme for a further three years.

During 2022, the Council implemented a modified framework and procurement process. Three local councils and three voluntary sector organisations secured contracts under a three-year, multi-supplier framework agreement following a competitive procurement process to co-ordinate the council’s future HAF programmes. In 2022, supported by 58 activity providers, the programme reached 36% of children and young people in Gloucestershire eligible for free school meals during the spring school holidays, and 60% during the summer school holidays.

In December 2022, the council received a grant determination letter confirming the allocation of £1,615,710 for delivery of the HAF during 2023- 2024. This will continue annually for each year of the programme.

Cllr Davies outlined proposals to ensure the HAF Programme will be commissioned throughout its existence using a three-year modified framework to enable the commissioning of HAF related activities via six lead organisations, each covering one district as follows: Cheltenham Borough Council (Cheltenham Borough), Cotswolds District Council (Cotswold District), Forest Voluntary Action Forum (Forest of Dean District), Venture White City (Gloucester City), Stroud District Council (Stroud District) and Young Gloucestershire (Tewkesbury Borough). Cllr Davies explained that, using this approach allowed the Council the flexibility to fund activities to meet the requirements of the programme.

Cllr Davies corrected the information provided within the Cabinet report, which had misassigned the lead organisation to each district.  Subject to the amendment, and having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the allocation of £1,615,710 in funding received by the council from the Department for Education (“DfE”) pursuant to a Section 31 Grant Determination for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (“HAF”) 2023 -2024 No: 31/6391 (the “HAF 2023-2024 Funding”) to the provision of the council’s HAF Programme, comprising the provision of holiday activities; food; family support; nutritional education, and such other related support as may be required, during the Spring, Summer and Winter school holiday periods as follows:

1.1 £1,263,045 shall, on the basis set out in Annex One to this report, be apportioned in the period 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024 to providing support to children and families in each  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9