Proposed decision:
Accept additional COVID Winter Grant funding of £1.5m and confirm the deployment to support FSM and related assistance during the Easter Holidays.
Background
The purpose of the original grant was “to give vulnerable households peace of mind in the run up to Christmas and over the Winter months during the pandemic by helping those who need it to have food on the table and other essentials, so every child will be warm and well-fed this winter.”
It has proved challenging to identify and get the resources to those most in need in the time period required by the grant and all partners have worked very hard collectively and individually to achieve this. Whilst we have discretion to determine how to allocate this second tranche of funding, the arguments in favour of using it to provide supermarket vouchers for those families entitled to benefits-related free school meals are very strong:
· After providing such vouchers in the October, Christmas and February holidays, there is an expectation amongst schools and families that similar support will be offered in the Easter holidays. Although the Government’s Holiday Activities Fund has now been announced, this is only expected to provide meals to those children and young people entitled to FSMs who attend an activity, which under the grant conditions is expected to cover four days during Easter. Due to Covid-19 it is recognised by the Department for Education that it will not be possible to commission significant amounts of activities and support in time for Easter.
· It takes time to organise and implement schemes, and whilst we are confident of delivering the first tranche of Winter Grant in full, the logistics of getting resources to the right people at the right time takes planning and organisation, and there is insufficient time to do this by the beginning of April.
The cost of providing supermarket vouchers during the February half term was around £675k so it is estimated that the costs of covering the Easter holidays will be £1.35m, and if there are resources left over they will be used in line with the grant conditions.
Options considered but discarded
· The option of turning down the grant was not given serious consideration, as there are many Kent families in need who will benefit from receiving this support.
· We considered using the money to extend the other elements of Winter Fund (KSAS, fuel poverty, extension of the projects being run by the Districts & Boroughs) but it would not be possible to spend £1.5m on these in the first two weeks in April, and if we spend the money on supermarket vouchers for benefits-entitled free school meals that is estimated to take up virtually the full £1.5m.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 16/03/2021
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
Confirmation of the funding and the timescales from Government does not allow for KCC compliance with normal Executive Decision timeframes. Additionally, the need to implement the decision as soon as possible so as to ensure FSM arrangements for the Easter Holidays requires the use of urgency procedures.
Decision due: 16 Mar 2021 by Leader of the Council
Reason: Urgent Decision - Immediate implementation
Lead member: Leader of the Council
Lead director: Zena Cooke
Contact: Debra Exall, Strategic Relationship Adviser Email: debra.exall@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01622 696115.
Consultees
No Cabinet Committee consultation due to urgency.
Consultation with relevant non-executive Members via urgency procedures to be indicated on the Record of Decision.
Financial implications: The decision is to accept the £1.5m second tranche of Covid Winter Grant in full, and there should be no direct impact on the council’s budget. The risk of costs exceeding the £1.5m are now very small, given the experience of providing these vouchers over the previous school holidays.
Legal implications: Funding must be used in accordance with the guidance set by government, and the terms and conditions of the grant. KCC will apply appropriate legal mechanisms as part of issuing or deploying any grant monies to ensure any partners or third parties in receipt of grant funding remain compliant.
Equalities implications: There are clear eligibility criteria for benefits-entitled free school meals, which reduces the risk of arbitrary decisions and subjectivity, and efforts will continue to be made to ensure that those who are entitled to this support are made aware of that entitlement and encouraged to take it up.