That:

1)            the distribution of food vouchers, to a total value of £100,000 to cover the Christmas 2020 and February 2021 half-term breaks to families with children in receipt of means-tested free school meals, be approved;

2)            the distribution of up to £5,000 in total to Care Leavers to ensure that they have sufficient access to food and utilities over the winter months be approved;

3)            the distribution of the remainder of the grant through referral of families and individuals in need by voluntary sector partners (including under the umbrella of INVOLVE), other partners, and internal front-line staff into the Community Response Front Door facilitated by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau be approved;

4)            that authority be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to make decisions about the process for determination of level of support provided and means of delivery of support under 2 and 3 above, in line with guidance provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Executive considered a report relating to proposals for the distribution of the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services introduced the report and advised that the Department for Work and Pensions had provided a grant across all local authorities of £70m from which Wokingham Borough Council had been allocated £280,703.  The first tranche (50%) had already been received to cover the period 1^st December 2020 to 31^st March 2021.  The purpose of the grant was to help struggling families and individuals with the cost of food, utility bills and other associated items.  At least 80% of the grant was ringfenced to benefit families with children and up to 20% for the benefit of individuals. 

Councillor Dolinski queried whether, if there was any problem with the administration of the system, the vouchers would be backdated.   In response Councillor Clark confirmed that all children in receipt of benefits-related Free School Meals would automatically receive vouchers distributed by Edinred and these would be sent to the relevant school.  If need appeared later, once the schools were closed, the individual could go to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or any charity for support.  The Leader of Council confirmed that if there was a problem with the administration of the grant then the Council would ensure that any problems were solved.

In response to a query about how the Council was going to ensure that anyone receiving the vouchers would not feel stigmatised Councillor Clark confirmed that the vouchers would contain an Ecode with which families could purchase gift cards which would be the same as those purchased by anyone.

RESOLVED that:

1)               the distribution of food vouchers to a total value of £100,000 to cover the Christmas 2020 and February 2021 half-term breaks to families with children in receipt of means-tested free school meals be approved;

2)               the distribution of up to £5,000 in total to Care Leavers to ensure that they have sufficient access to food and utilities over the winter months be approved;

3)               the distribution of the remainder of the grant through referral of families and individuals in need by voluntary sector partners (including under the umbrella of INVOLVE), other partners, and internal front-line staff into the Community Response Front Door facilitated by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau be approved;

4)               that authority be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to make decisions about the process for determination of level of support provided and means of delivery of support under 2 and 3 above, in line with guidance provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).