Decision details

CR/546/05/22 - May School Holiday Food Vouchers & Payments

Decision Maker: Director of Corporate Resources

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor made further Household Support Fund available. Doncaster Council’s share is £2,989.273.08 to cover the period from 1st April 2022 to 30th September 2022. At least one third of the allocation must be spent on vulnerable households with children, which amounts to at least a further £996,424.36. We have already provided the above to vulnerable households with children over the Easter Holidays out of this further allocation of Household Support Fund and wish to do the same for the May school holidays, the estimated cost is a further £235,495. Other parts of this initiative will be included in a key decision report but time is of the essence for the May school holidays, hence this separate Officer Decision Record progressed more urgently.

The objective is to provide further much needed support to families on the lowest incomes and in most need of support at a time when the cost of food and energy has increased significantly.

Decision:

1. The provision of school holiday food vouchers during the May school holiday to children currently in school and in receipt of free school meals; and

2. An equivalent payment for the May school holiday period to non-school age children where the household is in receipt of a council tax reduction or housing benefit due to low income.

Alternative options considered:

No other alternatives have been considered due to the cost-of-living crisis having a huge impact and these funds being allocated by the government.

Publication date: 13/05/2022

Date of decision: 10/05/2022

Accompanying Documents: