Decision Details

This report sets out Birmingham’s allocation under the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).

It seeks approval for the proposed use of Birmingham’s third allocation of £12.971m. Of this total £11,949,000 will be targeted towards citizens, with direct delivery costs totalling £842,000, or 6.6% of the total available allocation 

• Revenue in excess of £500k
• Significant effect on communities in two or more wards

On 13 December 2022, Cabinet:-

1. Approved the use of the Household Support Fund as set out in paragraph 3.12 to the report;

    

2. Delegated the management of the distribution to the Director Adult Social Care (or their delegate) in conjunction with the Director of Strategy, Commissioning and Transformation Children and Families (or their delegate) and Strategic Director of Council Management (or their delegate);

    

3. Approved the transfer of £5.1m claimed from DWP to Birmingham Children’s Trust to provide £4.8m in direct financial assistance to vulnerable families with children until 31st March 2023. This includes a £1m overspend allocation to flexibly respond to demand across the specified areas of spend on vulnerable children including those in low income families, over the course of this winter in line with DWP guidance. This includes delivery costs of the BCT’ overall package of HSF assistance which totals £300K. This will be set out in a conditions of grant aid agreement.

    

4. Noted the requirement for waiver procedure required in order to establish a contract with the Post Office for delivery of cash pay-out voucher schemes at cost of £135,000 required for £2m to low income All Age Households and £2m to Pension Age households in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) voucher scheme. This will be carried out in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations (PCR) 2015;

    

5. Delegated authority to grant award to a suitable third sector organisation, the delivery of two Targeted Hardship Grant Schemes for All Age Households and the distribution of payments to families with children that are referred by Birmingham Children’s Trust partners. The estimated cost to run this is £300,000, until 31st March 2023. This provider will be selected through a grant application process with associated risk assessments;

    

6. Approved a £500K top up to Local Welfare Provision funding and £87K additional staffing costs associated with direct delivery;

    

7. Authorised the City Solicitor (or delegates) to execute and complete all necessary legal documents to give effect to the above decisions.