Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 8, 2024

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council - Record of Decision   I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby approve:   That £2.817m Household Support Fund, and available core council funding, is allocated as follows:   ·                Continued provision of Holiday Food Vouchers to eligible children at £15 per week for the remaining 6 weeks of school holidays (up to Easter 2025), at a total cost of £1,422,000.   ·                Further allocations for October 2024 to 31 March 2025 set out below to support ongoing activity: o   Salford Assist - £1,000,000 o   Community Solutions - £100,000 o   Foodbanks and foodclubs via CVS - £100,000 o   Adult Social Care - £25,000 o   Housing Benefit Support - £70,000 o   Support costs - £100,000   ·                The council’s £2.7m non-recurrent revenue will be vired to the Corporate budget to be used in 2024/25 on a one-off basis to offset pressures identified in the Council budget at Quarter 1, specifically the Housing Benefit Subsidy loss.   ·                Previous investments in 2023/24 carried into 2024/25 are likely to remain partially unspent, and could be carried into 2025/26, to partially offset demand for continued support activities as set out in this report.  Use of this funding will be considered as part of the Council’s budget strategy and Medium Term Financial Planning discussions. The Reasons are: Government have recently announced a further six month extension to the Household Support Fund up to March 2025.  Salford’s confirmed allocation is £2.73m.     Along with the council’s core investment the fund has provided crucial support to Salford’s residents.  It has supported Salford Assist, Welfare Rights and Debt Advice, Salford CAB, Housing support costs, Adults Social Care, Foodbanks and foodclubs and Holiday Food Vouchers.  Some of the initiatives supported by Salford Assist as part of the HSF scheme include Housing Options, Supported Tenancies, Hospital Discharge Team, Public Health, GPs and the VCFSE’s  with  these partners also ensuring vital support to residents in terms of support with food, debt advice, money management, benefit advice, homelessness, energy provider schemes, recycling programmes and money services.   Proposals enable continuation of essential support to residents for a further six months. Options considered and rejected were: The primary focus was to ensure continuation of core support activities – principally to continue with Holiday Voucher provision to support young people and families, and to ensure sufficient funding through Salford Assist.   The extension of HSF represents an unexpected windfall and the option was also taken to reduce the impact on the Council’s core budget and Medium Term Financial Plan.   Assessment of Risk:  Medium.   The source of funding is:  Household Support Fund, with contribution from previously carried over core funding and GMCA Waste Levy Investments.   Legal Advice obtained: not applicable Financial Advice obtained:  Michelle Cowley, Finance Manager HSF has been extended for a further six months.  Salford’s allocation has been confirmed at £2.73m, the same level as previously.  With a small contribution from carried over funds, this will be sufficient to cover the proposed allocations. The SCC allocation of £2.7m (non-recurring) agreed in February will be returned to ease pressures in other areas.   Consideration will have to be made regarding supporting these schemes beyond March 25 if HSF is to then cease.   There was also an element of carry forward into this year from 23/24 which at the moment is not fully committed and it is proposed that this is carried forward into 25/26 to continue some elements of the above if HSF is to cease at March 25. Procurement Advice obtained: not applicable   HR Advice obtained:  Samantha Betts, Director HROD, Samantha.betts@salford.gov.uk   This report details that the funding allocation currently supports additional employees employed on fixed term contracts to deliver the HSF Discretionary Scheme along with overtime and additional hours used to help support demand for the service.    Employees working under fixed-term contracts are protected by the Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002, which require that such employees are treated no less favourably than comparable permanent employees. Expiry of a fixed term contract is a dismissal in law.  It should be noted that employees will accrue employment protection rights, including unfair dismissal and redundancy, if employed continuously for two years.  It should be noted that the Employment Rights Bill will introduce day one protection against unfair dismissal.   It is proposed that the additional staffing will be required to March 2025, which may result in postholders accruing more than two years’ continuous service.  Therefore, if the contract is not renewed it would be deemed to be dismissal by reason of redundancy, the postholder will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay.    It should be noted that the source of funding for a role is not a fair reason for selection for redundancy, and selection on the grounds of fixed term contract would be in breach of the Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002.  Therefore, loss of funding requiring a reduction in workforce numbers would potentially affect a wider pool than simply those engaged on fixed term contracts.   The costs associated with redundancy pay have not been factored into the proposals. By means of mitigation, prior to any redundancies being declared the council will deploy it’s voluntary schemes and usual efforts in supporting those individuals affected with seeking alternative employment through our well established and successful redeployment arrangements.   Climate Change Advice obtained: not applicable   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·         Report to Cabinet, 8 October 2024, Household Support Fund 2024/25   Contact Officer:   Jacquie Russell, Director Policy and Performance                    Telephone number: 0161 793 3577     The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Overview and Scrutiny Panel              Signed:         Paul Dennett                       Dated:  08.10.24                                       .                         City Mayor   For Democratic Services use only   This decision was published on  08.10.24                                            This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 15.10.24                                                   unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.