Purpose

In April 2022, the Government
announced further monies would be made available to County Councils
and Unitary Authorities through the Household Support Fund (HSF)
Grant, which is intended to support those most in need and help
with living costs.  The Assistant Director, Communities agreed
the distribution of these funds within the parameters set out in
the grant determination letter and approved the award of contract
to a retail voucher scheme provider (following a compliant
procurement process) that supported the distribution of some of the
funds covered by the Household Support Fund Grant.  Key Decision
Allocation of Household Support Fund Grant OKD16 (22/23)
refers.
 
The electronic voucher scheme
provides vouchers redeemable across a broad range of grocery and
non-grocery retailers relevant to the West Sussex area. This
decision will ask the Assistant Director, Communities to agree a
direct award contract to include provision of vouchers over the
school holiday period and beyond.
 
Due to the need for this matter
to be determined as soon as possible the decision maker has secured
agreement from the County Chairman, in the absence of the
appropriate Scrutiny Chairman, for this key decision to be taken
without the full 28 days prior notice in the Forward Plan of key
decisions (Part 4, Section 1, Standing Order 3.57) (Regulation 11)
because delay would prejudice the County Council’s
interests.
 

Decision

The Assistant Director (Communities) has
approved;
 
(1)       
the extension of the Contract with Wonde Ltd for a period of two months from the
1st July to 31st
August 2024 for a maximum additional £1,000,000 of
expenditure and;

(2)       
the award of a new contract to Wonde
Ltd for a period of four years and two months commencing on
1st September 2024 for a capped maximum value of
£20,000,000.