Notice of Motion

GREEN group and independent member

WELFARE ASSISTANCE FUND

Council notes that in 2020/1, due to the pressures the Covid-crisis put on households, the Government provided significant additional funding to councils like ours to enable us to deliver vital emergency support. As a result, we were able to put in place funding to support the most vulnerable through the pandemic. This has included free school meal support. However, this funding will expire.

· Council notes and supports ongoing work to commission Money Advice services, third sector funding, the welfare support team and housing benefit support and advice, to ensure families and individuals are supported;

· The Children’s Society and a number of other charities are calling on the Government to provide long-term, dedicated funding to enable all councils to provide a safety-net for households facing financial crisis

Council therefore resolves to:

· Join and express support for the Children’s Society ‘funding local crisis support,’ campaign, calling on the government to maintain such funding for local crisis support services, beyond the pandemic;

· Ask the Chief Executive and Finance Officer to detail to government our support for the campaign and concerns regarding the end of this funding support on March 31^st.

Proposed by: Cllr Littman                               Seconded by: Cllr Knight

Supporting Information

[1]   https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-campaigns/strengthening-safety-net