Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Health and Communities approved the                                                use of Contain Outbreak Management Funding to fund work as follows:

a)       £0.200m to strengthen Covid-19 Community Champion work for a further 9 months in Derbyshire localities from 1 January 2024 to 30 September 2024 to be divided in line with the full breakdown of allocations outlined in paragraph 4.6. 

b)       £0.200m to strengthen Social Connectedness work for a further 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 to be divided in line with the breakdown of allocations outlined in paragraph 4.12.

c)       Replace the previously approved recipient for the High Peak Social Connectedness funding with High Peak Borough Council with effect from 12 September 2023.

d)       Transfer £0.025m to High Peak Borough Council as part of the approved Social Connectedness funding 2022-23, to be spent within the 2023-24 financial year.

To authorise the Cabinet Member for Health and Communities to apply the grant funding in accordance with the updated guidance and address some of the most significant ongoing impacts of the pandemic on residents of Derbyshire.

The Community Champions project is well established and offers a clear communication mechanism between communities, Public Health and the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care System.

Social isolation has increased as a result of the pandemic. The Social Connectedness project outlined in this report will contribute towards building community resilience.

Do Nothing. The ongoing impact of the pandemic on population health outcomes and health inequalities has resulted in additional service and financial pressures on the public sector. There are few alternative funding sources to mitigate this. Grant conditions set out in a December 2022 letter from the UK Health Security Agency prescribe legitimate uses of the funding and encourage Directors of Public Health to identify relevant schemes and to draft an expenditure plan to ensure that the funds are used in line with grant conditions.