Issue - meetings
Children's and Adult Services - General Grants
Meeting: 29/07/2015 - Commissioners' Decision Making Meeting (Item 5.3)
5.3 Children's and Adult Services - General Grants PDF 149 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Guidance on the payment of Allowances June 2015 29 06 15, item 5.3 PDF 205 KB
- Appendix 2 - FosterCarers allowances 2015 2016, item 5.3 PDF 127 KB
Decision:
The Commissioners noted the reasons for urgency set out in the report and invited Kate Bingham, Service Head, Children’s and Adults Resources, to introduce the report which concerned the following types of payments, and whether they could be considered grants:
- Carers Allowances - foster carers, adopters and special guardians
- Direct Payments to clients of Adults Social Care and children with disabilities
- Free School Meals provided through a payment to schools for years 3 to 6, 9 (except payments to Independent Schools)
- Department for Education’s (DFE) Pupil Premium Plus scheme.
It was reported that the above categories of payments were not grants and that they should proceed in accordance with the Council’s established practice
Payments to independent schools for free school meals were considered to be grants and Commissioners were asked to delegate authority for these payments to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services to enable payment to be made efficiently.
The Commissioners then asked attending Members to respond to the proposals and they indicated that they had no observations to make.
RESOLVED
1. That the following payments noted as not being grants –
a. Carers’ allowances and payments;
b. Direct payments to service users of Adult Social Care and their carers;
c. Payments to maintained schools for Free School Meals for years 3 to 6; and
d. Pupil Premium Plus for looked after children.
2. That the Council’s intent to continue these payments as outlined in the report be noted.
3. That the Corporate Director of Children’s Services be authorised to make the awards in respect of payments to independent schools for Free School Meals for years 3 to 6, until the end of 2015/16, in accordance with the current arrangements outlined in the report.