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Decision details

HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND GRANT

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to ask Cabinet to note the urgent decision taken by the Managing Executive Director on 11 November 2021 to:

 

a)    Approve spending plans for Derbyshire County Council’s allocation of the Household Support Fund grant; and

b)    Approve delegation of authority to the Executive Directors of Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Health, and the Managing Director to approve amendments and changes to plans for distributing the Household Support Fund in line with the overall scheme eligibility requirements. This will allow the Council to respond flexibly and effectively to any challenges, risks and opportunities that occur during the grant period and maintain our ability to swiftly distribute funds to vulnerable residents.

Decisions:

Cabinet was asked to note the urgent officer decisions taken by:

 

 i.     the Managing Executive Director on 11 November 2021 to approve spending plans for Derbyshire County Council’s allocation of the Household Support Fund grant and approve delegation of authority to the executive directors of Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Health, and the Managing Executive Director Commissioning, Communities and Policy to approve amendments and changes to plans for distributing the Household Support Fund in line with the overall scheme eligibility requirements (Appendix 2); and

 

ii.     the Strategic Director of Children’s services on 21 December 2021 to approve the use of a non-DCC Framework - the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6255 Voucher Framework - to appoint a supplier to provide food vouchers to fulfil the spending plans to utilise the Derbyshire County Council allocation of Household Support Fund (Appendix 3).

 

On 30 September 2021, the government announced a package of extra targeted financial support for vulnerable households most in need over the winter period. Notification of Derbyshire’s allocation of funds and clarifying guidance was not received from the DWP until 6 October 2021.  Council was required to provide an indicative plan by 29 October 2021 indicating how it would distribute the grant.  Normal decision-making protocols were therefore not possible.  The grant covered the period 6 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

 

The Household Support Fund was issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide support to households who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs.  Derbyshire County Council’s allocation was £5,404,080.90.

 

RESOLVED – to note the decisions made under urgent delegated powers.

Report author: Sarah Edwards

Publication date: 27/01/2022

Date of decision: 13/01/2022

Decided at meeting: 13/01/2022 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: