Decision details

RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the findings of the recent consultation to re-shape the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund policy;

2)    Adopt the policy changes recommended in this report, to ensure that the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund can operate within agreed budget parameters from the 1 October 2024, to include:

a)    Renaming payment types to crisis payment, re-settlement grant and essential item grant;

b)    Reducing the number of crisis payments awarded in any 12-month period to two and increasing the value of each payment to £65 plus £15 per additional household member;

c)    Simplifying the policy by removing payments for rent in advance, travel and wind down the provision of some items in social housing; and

d)    Adoption of a tiered prioritisation framework for the fund, incorporating vulnerability; and

3)    Approve that the Director of Public Health will oversee any minor amendments to policy documents following the prototyping period from 1 October to 31 March 2025 and that the policy will remain within the scope of the approvals set out in this report.