Decision details

Reason for the decision

As a result of the latest national lockdown and the new variant of the virus, additional and on-going needs have been identified that the Council, working with partners is keen to respond to, ensuring the continued support for residents and businesses in Kent. It is proposed that these areas of support utilise an initial £10m of the currently unallocated Covid-19 Emergency Grant Funding.

Background

The Government has provided significant grant funding to Kent County Council to support the local response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The Council has worked with a range of partners to allocate funding to respond to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Council’s services, to meet its public health obligations and to support those residents, families and businesses most in need of support since the start of the pandemic. In addition to a number of specific grants, a total of £95m Covid-19 Emergency Grant Funding has been received since March 2020.

Building on the support provided to date, the main aims of the funding are as follows:

•   To ensure those who most need help receive it, with a focus on equality of access, and consistency of approach to assessing eligibility across the county;

•   To provide guidance and advice that supports those seeking help to improve their situation and avoid future dependency;

•   To use this opportunity to improve the system for addressing financial hardship across the county, and preparing for what lies ahead

•   To support local businesses and the self-employed that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.

•   To ensure that the funding is used for time limited activity with a clear exit strategy in recognition that it is one-off funding

In order to be able to respond to the changing environment, it is proposed to have a flexible approach to the deployment of the grant funding, to allow for it to be used dynamically where it will be most effective. In order to ensure appropriate use of the grant funding, the support provided will take an evidence-based approach.

As there is already strong partnership working in place across the county and a wide range of effective support measures that have already been implemented, it is proposed to build on those arrangements and utilise the grant to respond to the latest national lockdown and the impact of the new variant. The four categories of spend and the proposed allocations are as follows:

a)        £4m to support low income households and households in financial distress, including through council services such as the Kent Support and Assistance Service, district and borough councils, voluntary and community sector organisations, such as Kent Community Foundation and utility companies such as South East Water.

b)        £3m to provide a range of support for businesses and the self-employed not in receipt of government funding, including through council services, district and borough councils, voluntary and community sector organisations, and business support organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce.

c)         £2.5m to tackle digital poverty, working with schools and colleges, district and borough councils and voluntary and community sector organisations.

d)       £500k to match-fund crowdfunded community projects and initiatives that support local communities in responding to and recovering from the impact of the pandemic.

The proposed decision will support the following elements of the Interim Strategic Plan:

•           Stand up for Kent’s residents

•           Target resource where it has the greatest impact

•           Empower people with the right skills to compete and succeed

•           Support children and young people with the highest needs

•           Support older and vulnerable adults to maintain a good quality of life

•           Invest in effective prevention

•           Support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector

As Leader of the Council, I:

1)        Agree a £10m allocation from the available Covid-19 Emergency Grant Funding.  This will be:

i)          Used to provide targeted support to low income households and households in financial distress, including individuals and families; and local businesses, in line with the funding principles and criteria set out within this decision report and the associated Policy Documents/Funding Frameworks, which are intended to provide sufficient flexibility to respond to emerging and changing needs across the county;

ii)         Allocated as follows:

(a)       £4m to support low income households and households in financial distress, including through council services such as the Kent Support and Assistance Service, district and borough councils, voluntary and community sector organisations, such as Kent Community Foundation and utility companies such as South East Water.

(b)       £3m to provide a range of support for businesses and the self-employed that meet specified criteria, including through council services, district and borough councils, voluntary and community sector organisations, and business support organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce.

(c)        £2.5m to tackle digital poverty, working with schools and colleges, district and borough councils and voluntary and community sector organisations.

(d)       £500k to match fund crowdfunded community projects and initiatives that support local communities in responding to and recovering from the impact of the pandemic.

and;

2)        Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Finance, after consultation with the Leader, to update, review and amend the proposed distribution of the funding in response to changing need, as evidenced by the monitoring of all Covid-19 related grant expenditure, including consideration of the use of any remaining unallocated grant funding; and

3)   Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Finance to take other necessary actions including but not limited to entering into contracts or other legal agreements, as required to implement this decision.