Decision Maker: Delegated Decisions

Outcome: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 17, 2026

Purpose: To consider indicative funding levels against eligible criteria of the Crisis Resilience Fund April 2026.

Content: 1.         That the Crisis and Resilience Fund grant provided by the Department of Work and Pensions for the purpose of the funding for the period April 2026 to March 2029, be accepted. 2.         That the proposed eligible spending themes and indicative levels of funding allocations, be approved as shown in Table 1. 3.         That authority be delegated to the Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Resources and Customer Experience, to administer the Crisis and Resilience Fund Programme 2026/29 and to make any necessary amendments to funding allocations and plans to ensure that the grant is fully utilised. Table 1: proposed eligible spending themes and indicative levels of funding allocations Eligible Spending Theme CRF Criteria - Draft Plan Activities Indicative % FundEstimate Crisis - CRF guidance describes crisis as a Financial Shock.     -          Online Applications will be available throughout the year -          Trusted partner and third-party referrals will be accepted to support a customer in crisis. -          Root cause for Crisis Support needs to be reported. Actions need to be established with the customer to improve their financial resilience over the long term. 20% Community Co-ordination and Wrap Around Support. The approach addresses financial, mental health, and systemic challenges through integrated support services. ?          The Council will continue to complete Affordability / Financial Assessments in respect of housing needs, priority debts, collection and welfare/ care support. ?          Intervention and review periods will be agreed with the customer to check point financial resilience. ?          Holistic wraparound support will be available through community and voluntary sectors to build resilience. ?          Family centres will continue to operate and provide support, advice and activities that connect and enhance the local support landscape. ?          Parish Councils will be engaged. ?          Schools and Public Health will form an active role in providing holistic support and signposting to care providers as well as local funds / grants. 14% Resilience services - Proactive Campaigns. Strategies that target financial distress early to prevent crises such as homelessness or severe debt will be developed. -          The Council will continue to use analytics to support campaigns and the financial profiling of distress. -          Outreach campaigns will identify households that are just about managing, and service areas will signpost to support and advice services that will increase resilience and reduce risk of future hardship. -          Priority Debt Support will be provided to prevent decline into crisis. 35% Resilience and Advice Services Services to be delivered by authorities and/or external providers to improve financial resilience to residents. Where resilience services are already in place CRF can be used to expand these services. -          Budget and Income Maximisation – Such as benefit checks, application support will be delivered by the council. -          Employment, training advice, access to support grants, community childcare, back to work mentoring and CV building will be facilitated by external partners / voluntary sector. -          Income soothing – access to affordable credit, saving behaviours, insurance take up, future planning services and financial education will be from an accredited provider. 7% Housing Costs -          Replacement of Discretionary Housing Payments Fund -          Additional Crisis payments can be made to secure tenancy  12% Admin ?          Budget and Income Maximisation – Such as benefit checks, application support will be delivered by the council.  ?          ICT Dashboards will continue to be funded to provide crisis analytics ?          Welfare calculators will continue to be funded. 12%