Decision Maker: Chief Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The purpose of the report is to request
approval from the Chief Executive to allocate the Department for
Work and Pensions (DWP) £2,419,369.23 Household Support Grant
funding for Oldham over the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September
2022. The report sets out the proposed allocation of funding across
several initiatives including food support for children and young
people over the school holiday periods and help with the cost of
fuel and essential items for pensioners and vulnerable
households.
It is important that the Council does not delay in mobilising
financial support to vulnerable residents
RESOLVED - That the Household Support Grant
funding is spent in full with regard to option one (see below). Any
decision to increase the fund with Council resources to augment the
offer during the period April to September 2022 will be deferred
until there is greater clarity on future Government funding
intentions.
Fve options are presented for consideration,
although there is a wide range of potential options.
Options 1-4 (Appendices 2-5 within the attached report) set out
proposals for the allocation of the HSG with Options 2-4 requiring
additional Council resources ranging from £0.088m to
£0.377m.
Option 5. The Council could choose not to deliver a package of
support to vulnerable residents over the April to September 2022
period. As the DWP funding is ringfenced, this would mean returning
the funding to the Government.
Options 2 to 5
Other reasons / organisations consulted
Consultation with the Director of Finance and
the Director of Legal Services, alongside finance, procurement,
legal and policy officers. The Chairman of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee has also been consulted.
Contact: Caroline Lee, Head of Revenues, Benefits and Business Support Email: caroline.lee@oldham.gov.uk Email: caroline.lee'oldham.gov.uk@oldham.gov.uk.
Publication date: 17/05/2022
Date of decision: 09/05/2022
Effective from: 25/05/2022
Accompanying Documents: