Decision details

COVID WINTER GRANT SCHEME

Decision Maker: Director of Neighbourhood Services

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

This report outlines proposed indicative spend of the government’s COVID Winter Grant Scheme allocation to Wirral (£1,224,616.93).

 

Under the Special Urgency provisions in the Council’s Constitution (Part 4, Section 2, paragraph 13 (e)) the Mayor has agreed that the decision should not be available for Call-In, can be instigated immediately and will be reported to the next meeting of Council.

Decision:

That the Director of Neighbourhood Services agrees the indicative local allocation of the above grant as outlined below:

 

Item

Proposed spend

a) Food & activities holiday provision for school and nursery age children (grants to Neo Community and multiple community-based food providers)

£385,790

b) Financial Support with Welfare Needs scheme

£80,000

c) Financial support with crisis energy (fuel) costs (grant to Fuelbank Foundation)

£100,000

d) Financial support with energy (fuel) and water bills debt

£200,000

e) Crisis support with emergency call-outs (heating)

£30,000

f) Emergency (temporary) heating (grant to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service £15,400)

£17,325

g) Winter Warmer Packs (grant to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service)

£20,000

h) Crisis support with essential white goods (grants to community-based providers)

£30,000

i) COVID Winter Fund - Small Grants Programme (grants to multiple community-based food providers)

£250,000

j) Emergency support

£30,000

k) Administration costs (5%)

£61,231

Contingency

£20,270.93

Total

£1,224,616.93

 

Reasons for the decision:

The Grant will help the Council continue its intensive work, in partnership with local agencies, groups and organisations, to support those most vulnerable throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Alternative options considered:

The option to reject the Grant has been discounted. 

 

Through the Council’s Humanitarian Cell, created in response to COVID-19, agencies and third sector partners have been engaged in determining both emergency and sustainable approaches to food and other poverty, the impacts of which on households have been compounded by the pandemic.  Members of the Humanitarian Cell’s Food Sub-Group were consulted and helped shape the proposed spend that is recommended within this report.

 

Publication date: 24/11/2020

Date of decision: 24/11/2020

Accompanying Documents: