Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Zoe Nicholson

(Key decision):

(1) To approve the Lewes District Council Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme, as specified in the proposal at paragraph 2 of the report.

(2) To authorise the Director of Service Delivery in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assistant Director of Finance to finalise the scheme criteria and take necessary steps to implement the Lewes District Council Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, to consider the proposed Lewes District Council Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme.

The eligibility criteria for the proposed scheme were set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Thanks were conveyed to the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Linington for her views that contributed towards the finalisation of the scheme’s criteria.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 21 September   2022 considered the report and were supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Boorman, Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. An update on how the scheme was progressing would be presented to PPAC’s meeting in December 2022.

Visiting member and Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Linington addressed the Cabinet. The Lead for Income Maximisation and Welfare was present remotely to respond to questions from the Cabinet and visiting members. Cabinet was advised that the Council was awaiting final government guidance on the latest national Household Support Fund. It was envisaged that the criteria would mirror that for the Council’s Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme and if there was an alignment of the two support funds, that would only require one application to be submitted by an applicant.

Debbie Twitchen, Tenants Representative addressed the Cabinet in support of the proposal and welcomed any proposals to simplify the process for applicants. She also added that as one of the grateful recipients of the £50,000 awarded to foodbanks earlier in the year, this amounted to £3,000 for her foodbank and lasted around 6 weeks. She advised that foodbanks would require additional support, if possible, from the Council, leading into the winter period.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To approve the Lewes District Council Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme, as specified in the proposal at paragraph 2 of the report.

(2) To authorise the Director of Service Delivery in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assistant Director of Finance to finalise the scheme criteria and take necessary steps to implement the Lewes District Council Cost of Living Emergency Fund Scheme.

Reason for decision:

Cabinet approval is required for the scheme to be implemented.