Issue - meetings

Cllr Stephen Davies - Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early

Years sought Cabinet approval for the recommendations in relation to the distribution of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding (amounting to £7,384,966 that is being provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for allocation in the period 1st April 2023 to31st March 2024.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve the recommendations in relation to the distribution of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding.

1. approve the allocation of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding (amounting to £7,384,966) as follows:

(a) £0.738m to the recruitment and remuneration of additional council staff in order to provide administration support in relation to the distribution of such funding.

(b) £1.600m to the six District Councils in Gloucestershire to be apportioned between them in accordance with the delegated authority sought under Recommendation 3 below, for the purpose of them each providing their own localised schemes to target the needs of the most vulnerable during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 (whilst complying with the grant conditions set by the DWP for delivery of the grant to provide support with food, energy and water bills, household items & other essential items).

(c) £0.250m to be allocated to the Holiday, Activities and Food Programme for the purpose of extending the scope of the HAF Programme to provide support to vulnerable children and young people who would not otherwise be eligible under the criteria set by the national programme during the period 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023.

(d) £0.300m to be allocated to the charity known as Severn Wye Energy Agency for the provision of energy related support to Gloucestershire residents and those in need following a referral by Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC’s) HSF team and/or any of the District Councils during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024.

(e) £0.165m to be held by GCC in reserve, to allow GCC to assess progress with the above schemes and make further allocations in response to need in accordance with the terms and conditions imposed on GCC by the DWP in relation to GCC’s use of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding.

(f) £4.330m to fund the supply and/or distribution of food vouchers, fuel vouchers, white goods and household emergency support during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 under the call-off contract(s) for which delegated authority is sought under Recommendation 2 below.

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years to award a call-off contract(s), under the council’s Welfare Support Services Framework Agreement, to the sole appointed provider thereunder, namely Auriga Services Limited, for the supply and/or distribution of the following food vouchers, fuel vouchers, white goods and household emergency support during the period 1st April

2023 to 31st March 2024:

(a) £2.040m in fuel vouchers, food vouchers, white goods, and household emergency support in response  ...  view the full decision text for item 9

9.1       Cllr Stephen Davies - Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early

Years sought Cabinet approval for the recommendations in relation to the distribution of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding (amounting to £7,384,966 that is being provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for allocation in the period 1st April 2023 to31st March 2024.

9.2       On the 17^th November 2022, central government announced an extension to the existing Household Support Fund by extending support through 2023/2024 (April 2023 – March 2024) to ensure vulnerable households were supported with the rising cost of essentials and so people who needed it most, would continue to receive vital support to meet essential household costs.

9.3       Members noted the breakdown of the recommendations and how the funding would be apportioned out.

9.4       The Cabinet Member thanked the team for their hard work in allocating out the funding previously.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve the recommendations in relation to the distribution of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding.

1. approve the allocation of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding (amounting to £7,384,966) as follows:

(a) £0.738m to the recruitment and remuneration of additional council staff in order to provide administration support in relation to the distribution of such funding.

(b) £1.600m to the six District Councils in Gloucestershire to be apportioned between them in accordance with the delegated authority sought under Recommendation 3 below, for the purpose of them each providing their own localised schemes to target the needs of the most vulnerable during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 (whilst complying with the grant conditions set by the DWP for delivery of the grant to provide support with food, energy and water bills, household items & other essential items).

(c) £0.250m to be allocated to the Holiday, Activities and Food Programme for the purpose of extending the scope of the HAF Programme to provide support to vulnerable children and young people who would not otherwise be eligible under the criteria set by the national programme during the period 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023.

(d) £0.300m to be allocated to the charity known as Severn Wye Energy Agency for the provision of energy related support to Gloucestershire residents and those in need following a referral by Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC’s) HSF team and/or any of the District Councils during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024.

(e) £0.165m to be held by GCC in reserve, to allow GCC to assess progress with the above schemes and make further allocations in response to need in accordance with the terms and conditions imposed on GCC by the DWP in relation to GCC’s use of the Extended 2023/24 HSF Funding.

(f) £4.330m to fund the supply and/or distribution of food vouchers, fuel vouchers, white goods and household emergency support during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 under the call-off contract(s) for which delegated authority is sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9