Content

(Report of Director of
Finance and Transformation)
 
Approval was sought for
the Borough Council’s proposed approach in respect of the
current grant of Household Support Fund for the
Borough.   The draft Tonbridge and
Malling Borough Council Household Support Scheme July 2023 –
March 2024 (attached at Annex 1) set out the proposed use of the
fund, which was to provide crisis support for
households.  The strategy for direction
of funding was based on successful outcomes of previous awards,
statistical returns, feedback from a recent welfare support
workshop and anecdotal experience.
 
The proposed use of
the grant funding was detailed in 1.3 of the report and it was
noted that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council had been allocated
funding of £278,562 to be used in accordance with Government
guidance by 31 March 2024.  Unspent
grant could not be rolled over into April beyond honouring any
expenditure committed to before the end of March.
 
Careful
consideration was given to the legal, financial and value for money
implications and Cabinet supported the proposed use of the grant
funding to support households, charitable organisations and the
local community.
 

RESOLVED:  That
 
(1)            
the Household Support Fund Scheme July 2023 – March 2024, as
set out at Annex 1, be approved;
 
(2)            
delegated authority be granted to the Director of Finance and
Transformation to establish an effective operational scheme to
disburse funds in accordance with the Household Support Fund Scheme
July 2023 – March 2024; and

 
(3)            
significant variance in direction of spend in response to any
emerging events or needs over the lifetime of the Scheme be allowed
for by agreement of the Leader, Cabinet Member for Finance and
Housing, Chief Executive and Director of Finance and
Transformation, in line with the general parameters of the
Household Support Fund.