Issue - items at meetings - Local Discretionary Social Fund Scheme

Report of the Acting Director of Finance (copy attached).

(1)               That the feedback from consultation be noted;

(2)               That it be agreed an interim scheme for Local Welfare Provision would be set up for the first year and the information and evidence gathered from this first year be used to review and update the scheme for year 2;

(3)               That the proposed interim scheme as set out in paragraph 3.17 of the report and appendix 1 be agreed;

(4)               That the Director of Finance, the Head of City Services and other officers exercising relevant functions be authorised to take all appropriate steps to develop, implement and administer the scheme; and

(5)               That the Interim Lead Chief Executive Services be authorised to amend the Scheme of Delegations to Officers as appropriate to refer to the Local Welfare Provision.

96.1         The Head of City Services introduced the report which set out the council’s proposed scheme to administer the local discretionary social fund, having had the responsibility to do so passed down from the government.  She noted that it was an interim scheme for local welfare provision and would be reviewed during the first year so that any changes could be accounted for in the following year.  She stated that whilst the DWP had previously been able to collect payments at source, this would not be the case for the council and therefore it would not be bale to replenish the budget in this way.  She also noted that officers would continue to work with partner organisations and across the council to support those affected and in need of support from the fund.

96.2         Councillor Littman thanked the officers involved and for bringing the proposed scheme forward.  He believed that it was yet another means of placing more responsibility on local authorities without sufficient resources.  However, he felt that it was the best possible scheme in the circumstances and recommended that it be approved.

96.3         The Chair noted the report and stated that he believed demand on the fund was likely to increase and therefore add pressure onto local authorities to support those in need.  He welcomed the work with the voluntary sector and hoped that the scheme would have a positive impact.

96.4         Councillor A. Norman welcomed the report and noted that the council was ahead of most other local authorities in bringing forward a scheme to deliver the fund and felt that the ability to offer help in kind rather than cash payment was the right approach.

96.5         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and thanked officers for their work in developing the scheme and for involving the voluntary sector.  She supported the approach of meeting people’s needs in kind as it maintained their dignity and questioned the government’s approach in the current economic climate to reduce the funding levels.

96.6         Councillor G. Theobald noted the report and suggested that should the council wish to put additional resources into the scheme it could do so.

96.7         The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendations to the vote.

96.8         RESOLVED:

(1)         That the feedback from consultation be noted;

(2)         That it be agreed an interim scheme for Local Welfare Provision would be set up for the first year and the information and evidence gathered from this first year be used to review and update the scheme for year 2;

(3)         That the proposed interim scheme as set out in paragraph 3.17 of the report and appendix 1 be agreed;

(4)         That the Director of Finance, the Head of City Services and other officers exercising relevant functions be authorised to take all appropriate steps to develop, implement and administer the scheme; and

(5)         That the Interim Lead Chief Executive Services be authorised to amend the Scheme of Delegations to Officers as appropriate to refer to the Local Welfare Provision.