Purpose

To inform Cabinet of recent consultation and proposed changes to future Derbyshire Discretionary Fund policy

Decision

RESOLVED to:

 

1)   
Note the findings
of the recent consultation to re-shape the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund
policy;

 

2)   
Adopt the policy
changes recommended in this report, to ensure that the Derbyshire Discretionary
Fund can operate within agreed budget parameters from the 1 October 2024, to
include:

 

a)   
Renaming payment
types to crisis payment, re-settlement grant and essential item grant;

 

b)   
Reducing the
number of crisis payments awarded in any 12-month period to two and increasing
the value of each payment to £65 plus £15 per additional household member;

 

c)   
Simplifying the
policy by removing payments for rent in advance, travel and wind down the
provision of some items in social housing; and

 

d)   
Adoption of a
tiered prioritisation framework for the fund, incorporating vulnerability; and

 

3)   
Approve that the
Director of Public Health will oversee any minor amendments to policy documents
following the prototyping period from 1 October to 31 March 2025 and that the
policy will remain within the scope of the approvals set out in this report.