Decision details

Purpose of Report: The Government have now announced a final extension of the Local Covid Support scheme (former Winter Grant Scheme(WSG)) to 30th September 2021 and further funding of £392k. At the same time there continues to be no Government funding for free school meals. This report will ask for approval to support the Holiday Activities and Food scheme which will operate for 4 weeks in the summer holiday by supplying funding for Free School Meal Vouchers in the remaining 2 weeks (£100k).

The initial funding for the first LCSS was lower than that of the WSG and as such a more cautious approach had been taken in the level of funding awarded to residents to provide support across the full period to 20th June. As the new funding is much higher and must be spent by the end of September 2021 the intention is to provide greater financial support where it is required. The report will make recommendations on the proposals to distribute the funding fairly to those in greatest need.

The Executive Member will be asked to (in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods):
• Approve the funding for 2 weeks Free School Meal vouchers in the summer holidays at around £100k
• Approve the scheme to distribute the new extended LCSS funding to the end of September.

While we always aim to provide 28 days’ notice of a decision being made, on this occasion this was not possible due to the need to have the necessary approvals in place to distribute grant funding to individuals/families with children by the end of September. Also to  approve the funding of free school meals vouchers before the summer holidays which commence on 24th July 2021.

Resolved:

                      i.         Noted the top slice of £100k from the new LCGS grant for free school meal vouchers during the remaining two weeks of the school summer holidays (as outlined in paragraph 10 of the report);

                     ii.         Approved the methodology outlined in paragraph 16 of the report for allocating the remaining grant to families identified as in need using the Council Tax Support  (CTS) scheme entitlement criteria;

                    iii.        Approved the continuation of the existing scheme for anyone not on CTS but requires help with food and bills (paragraph 18 of the report).

Reason:     To ensure government funding is utilised in the fairest and most direct way to support as many families as possible affected by the financial impacts of the Covid19 Pandemic.