To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities seeking approval to accept the transfer of funding from central Government to Southampton City Council for local support to replace discretionary payments from the Social Fund (Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for Living Expenses) currently administered by the Department of Work and Pensions. The indicative amount of funding will be provided via a Settlement Letter.
The Settlement Letter has been received outlining the level of funding for 2013/14 and 2014/15.
As part of the Welfare Reform Act (2012), the Government is abolishing the current system of discretionary payments from the Social Fund. From April 2013, the support provided to households via Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for Living Expenses will cease and Local Authorities will receive financial support to enable them to develop and implement ‘successor models’. There is no expectation or desire for Local Authorities mirror the current scheme in whole or part.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Decision due: 16 Oct 2012 by Cabinet
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Communities & Customer Engagement
Lead director: Interim Director, Environment and Economy
Department: Communities Portfolio
Contact: Sara Crawford E.mail sara.crawford@southampton.gov.uk Tel: 023 8083 2673 sara.crawford@southampton.gov.uk.
Consultation process
Briefings, meetings, emails and telephone conversations.
Consultees
KeyCabinet Members, Council Officers, local Jobcentre Plus and Anti-Poverty Organisations.
Public Comments may be sent to: Sara Crawford, Regeneration Projects Manager 023 8083 2673 Sara.crawford@southampton.gov.uk
Slippage/Variations/Reason for Withdrawal: Decision due date for Cabinet changed from 21/08/2012 to 18/09/2012. Reason: This report has slipped to 16th October Cabinet meeting to enable due consideration of a Settlement Letter from the Department of Work and Pensions, which has been sent to all Local Authority Chief Executives. The letter outlines the indicative amount of funding to be transferred to the Authority to cover financial hardship support for local residents. Although this funding is not 'ring fenced', the Settlement Letter sets out what the funding is to be used for, the underlying principles, and describes the outcomes that must be achieved, upon which the Cabinet report recommendations will be based.