Decision details

The purpose of this report is:

1)    To seek approval to implement the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme (main award) in accordance with the latest Government guidance;

2)    To seek approval to implement the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme in accordance with the Gedling Borough Council Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Policy at Appendix 2;

3)    To establish by virement a Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment  budget of £24,000 to be funded by Government Grant;

4)    To establish by virement a Test and Trace Support Administration budget of £26,000 to be funded by Government Grant;

5)    To delegate to the Director responsible for Revenues and Welfare Support Services the authority to determine applications for Test and Trace Support Payments, including discretionary payments, in accordance with the schemes outlined this report.

6)    To delegate to the Director responsible for Revenues and Welfare Support the authority to nominate and authorise the list of officers that will undertake the required eligibility checks necessary to process applications to comply with data sharing agreement requirements.

7)    To delegate to the Director responsible for Revenues Services and Welfare Support Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation the authority to amend the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Policy as necessary, if the Government makes any alteration to its guidance to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

To approve:

1)     The implementation of the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme (main award) in accordance with the latest Government guidance as updated from time to time;

2)     The Implementation of the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme in accordance with the Gedling Borough Council Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Policy at Appendix 2;

3)     The establishment, by virement of: (a) a Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme budget of £24,300; and (b) a Test and Trace Support Scheme administration budget of £26,000; both to be funded by Government Grant;

4)     That the determination of applications for Test and Trace Support Payments, including discretionary payments, in accordance with the government guidance and the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Policy is delegated to the Director responsible for Revenues and Welfare Support;

5)     That the authority to nominate and authorise the list of officers that will undertake the eligibility checks required to process applications in order to comply with data sharing agreement requirements is delegated to the Director responsible for Revenues and Welfare Support; and

6)     That the authority to amend the Discretionary Test and Trace Support Payment Policy as necessary, if the Government makes any alteration to its guidance, be delegated to the Director responsible for Revenues Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation.

The Council is expected by Government to award payments in line with the guidance it has published for the main award and in accordance with an approved discretionary scheme developed in line with its guidance.

The delegations to officers are requested in order to ensure the timely payment of awards and that no unnecessary burden is placed on the Executive and to ensure that access to data required to process applications is restricted to authorised personnel only.

There is a strong expectation from government that the Council will provide support for individuals who are required to self-isolate.  The principal eligibility criteria are defined by the government with the only element of discretion for the Council being the option to introduce additional criteria to determine eligibility for discretionary payments in their area, as long as these operate in addition to, rather than instead of the government’s defined criteria as set out in paragraph 1.5.  Alternative options for the additional criteria could be set e.g. a higher gross pay level for the assessment of low income which would make more individuals eligible, however given the cap on funding restricting the number of payments possible to 48, this alternative may not ensure the fund reaches those most in need across the four month period of the scheme. Setting the income level at the living wage as proposed is an accepted and understood measure of lower income.

An alternative to the proposal at paragraph 2.3 would be to report each application for local discretionary relief to the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Reputation for his determination. Currently this would mean that the Portfolio Holder would have to consider approximately potentially a high number of application. This would place an unnecessary burden on the Executive which is not considered necessary where there is criteria for eligibility and policies available for the determination of the award.