Decision details

Household Support Grant Distribution and Procurement

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The distribution of the Household Support Fund

Decision:

RECOMMENDED that the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning

 

       i.         agrees the proposed routes to spend the Household Support Fund by the end of March 2022.

 

     ii.         approves the Strategic Procurement Plan for purchasing supermarket vouchers.

Reasons for the decision:

       i.         It is required for the local authority to create a local eligibility framework to disburse the funding that has been received from the Department of Work and Pensions. The distribution as set out in the Strategic Procurement Plan provides the basis for this framework.

 

     ii.         Supermarket vouchers have been recommended as the primary use for the fund as this has previously proved successful with supporting children eligible for free school meals with the cost of food during the school holidays. The vouchers are to be distributed to low-income households within Bracknell Forest to help alleviate the increased financial pressures related to the pandemic and the winter months as well as offsetting the increase in household bills.

 

    iii.         The funding from the DWP must be distributed by the end of March 2022. In order to maximise the fund and directly support residents, a procurement exercise is required to appoint a supplier of supermarket vouchers.

Alternative options considered:

The financial hardship officers group considered other options for spending the household support funding, but it was concluded that these would not be as effective as those recommended in terms of efficiently disbursing funds to those most in need. A number of other options have been considered but these are more complex and labour intensive. The proposals follow agreed practice in distributing previous tranches of this funding.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Reason Key: Expenditure >£400,000 & Affects more than 1 ward.;

Financial Impact: Detailed within report.

Declarations: None

Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No

Making Representations: In writing to the Chief Executive.

Consultees

None

Contact: Katie Flint, Policy and Performance Lead Email: katie.flint@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 352217.

Report author: Katie Flint

Publication date: 16/11/2021

Date of decision: 16/11/2021

Decided at meeting: 16/11/2021 - Executive

Accompanying Documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk