Information

To consider a proposal for two new funds, designed to mitigate financial hardship and promote financial resilience in South Lakeland.

Summary

Consideration was given to two new funds, which had been designed to mitigate financial hardship and promote financial resilience in South Lakeland. The first fund was aimed at supporting local councils and community groups to develop projects to alleviate poverty, with the second being focused on enabling partner agencies to work on the frontline to provide immediate, low level, financial support to individuals to avert a crisis.

The proposals were in support of the motion passed by full Council in October 2020 declaring a Poverty Emergency in South Lakeland and would see the Council consider applications from Town and Parish Councils, local charities, community interest companies, voluntary groups and other not for profit organisations in South Lakeland. The report set out that applications must have clear and measurable outputs and address poverty alleviation by supporting local communities and residents to become more sustainable and financially resilient.

The report highlighted an Emergency fund, which would be set up and made available to the South Lakeland Building Financial Resilience Partners (as described in paragraph 3.14 of the report) to support individuals/ residents (up to £200 per individual/ household) to meet immediate and severe financial need. The Emergency Fund would be awarded to Partner Agencies and all payments made would be logged and reported back to the Council via quarterly review meetings. It was explained that this would enable an analysis of impact and outcome against the Council Plan targets of halving the proportion of households in poverty and eliminating child poverty.

Decision

RESOLVED – That:-

(1)        the “Fairer South Lakeland Fund” be approved and be established as outlined in paragraphs 3.11-3.12, to which local community organisations may bid for financial support to implement projects which support the achievement of SLDC’s aim of ‘A fairer South Lakeland, a South Lakeland for everyone’ and “Halve the proportion of households in poverty and eliminate child poverty”. The Fund be financed through the use of unclaimed councillor allowances in 2020/21, which have been allocated to a ‘Poverty Alleviation Fund’;

(2)        a single round of applications be agreed and be invited, with the total of all awards to be contained within a total expenditure from the Fund of £25,000. The Operational Lead People, Welfare and Income Maximisation, and the Strategy Lead specialist in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Poverty Alleviation to approve grant awards by administrative decision in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in paragraphs 3.11 – 3.12 of this report;

(3)        Subject to financial capacity remaining in the Poverty Alleviation Fund, authority be delegated to the Operational Lead People, Welfare and Income Maximisation/ Strategy Lead Specialist in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Poverty alleviation to approve a further bidding round. The Strategy Lead Specialist in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Poverty Alleviation to approve grant awards by administrative decision.;

(4)        an emergency fund be agreed, established and made available to the South Lakeland Building Financial Resilience Partners (as described in paragraph  ...  view the full minutes text for item DEX/1