Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

COVID-19 Response - Update on Proposals to Further Support Individuals Facing Financial Hardship

Consider report by Director, Resilient Communities (copy attached).

Minutes:

5.1       With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 9 February 2021, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Director - Resilient Communities providing an update in relation to the allocation of the Scottish Government “Addressing future need to support individuals at financial risk 2020/21” Fund. The report also included further proposals to provide wider financial support to individuals who require additional help. A previous paper, approved by the Committee on 9 February 2021, detailed £20m of funding that had been announced by Scottish Government to be made available to Local Authorities to support those in financial hardship, £330k of which was available to Scottish Borders Council for Food and Financial Insecurity. Additional funding announced by the Scottish Government meant that a further £330k was available, to a total of £660k. Funding to both foodbanks/FareShare providers and Eildon Housing had provided much needed assistance in the provision of white goods, transport and top up of food banks for those who were self-isolating. Hardship payments of £75 had been made to approximately 1300 families across the borders, totalling over £99k.

 

5.2       Additional funding was sought for a range of initiatives, including £100k in relation to the extension of the Warm and Well scheme, £26k for a Scottish Child Bridging Payment, £117k to enhance the Clothing Grants Scheme, £121k to create an Inclusion Fund and £45k for a range of existing third sector networks, Community Planning Partners and other groups or organisations. A Financial Insecurity Group made up of relevant Officers and led by the Director - Resilient Communities, had continued to meet on a regular basis to discuss the funding.  The proposed allocation of the next phase of funding was presented at Sections 5 and 6 of the report, which was based on the Scottish Government guidance, main objectives and the expected outcomes of the fund. The Director gave a summary of the new proposals detailed within the report and made reference to the case studies included as Appendices to the report.  Members discussed the report, praised the excellent work of the officers involved, and recommended that anyone facing hardship as a result of COVID-19 utilise the funding on offer.

 

.           DECISION

AGREED:-

 

(a)     to note the funding that has been awarded to date in Appendix A to the report, and the available balances;

 

(b)     to delegate authority to the Director - Resilient Communities to allocate funding as detailed in the report in respect of the following:

          (i)      The extension of the Warm & Well Borders Scheme;

          (ii)     Scottish Child Payments Bridging Payments, enhancing the Clothing Grants Scheme and the creation of an Inclusion Grant Scheme;

          (iii)    Allocation of funding to a range of existing third sector networks, Community Planning Partners (including Registered Social Landlords) and any other partnerships, networks, resilience groups or other organisations who were already working with vulnerable individuals, to assist with essentials in accordance with the guidance, based on the principles of digital, fuel and food poverty and other items deemed as emergency essentials.

 

(c)       to delegate authority to the Director Finance & Corporate Governance to reflect in the budget any further funding which might be allocated to support households over the winter of 2021-22 in line with the Scottish Government’s states policy intent; and

 

(d)       that all claims, financial monitoring and evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with the guidance and requirements of the Fund by officers delegated by the Director of Resilient Communities.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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