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Potential changes to local Welfare Grants scheme |
Since 2013, South Gloucestershire Council has been running a local Welfare Grants scheme funded by the government. The scheme provides assistance to vulnerable people to help meet their urgent subsistence or financial needs.
Support under the Welfare Grant scheme is not solely money based but identifies support and help to qualifying individuals through other services of the council, direct provision, advice, support agencies and third party bodies such as the wider charitable sector. |
It has been confirmed in the 2015/16 Local Government Finance Settlement that the specific grant funding for a Local Welfare Grant Scheme will not continue post 2014/15. When a specific grant falls, the normal council budget process has been to consider reducing council services supported by that specific grant. Therefore on 12 January 2015 South Gloucestershire’s Councillors agreed to consult with the public on the future of the scheme. |
The council is considering three options for the future of the Welfare Grants Scheme:
• Option 1: Continue the current scheme - As specific funding is no longer available this would
require the council to identify corresponding savings/income to continue to fund it.
• Option 2: Amend the scheme to continue to provide support for the most vulnerable but reduce
the on-going costs on the council by making changes to the policy ensuring that only those
residents who need urgent immediate assistance and/or need to establish themselves in the
area are supported by a grant award. As specific funding is no longer available this would
require the council to identify corresponding savings/income to continue to fund it.
• Option 3: Cease the current scheme in line with the loss of specific grant. |
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Q1 |
Which option do you think the council should implement? |
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Q2 |
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If the council were to continue to provide a local welfare grants in the future, it could choose to make changes to the current scheme.
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Q3 |
Should there be a cap or maximum on awards given? |
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Q4 |
If a cap or maximum was introduced, what level should it be set at? |
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Q5 |
Should the number of applications in a rolling 12 month period be limited to per household rather than per customer? |
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Q6 |
Should the scheme only contribute toward the cost of household goods? |
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Q7 |
Should the number of white goods be limited? |
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Q8 |
Should the policy include support toward payment of Council Tax where LCTR is in payment? |
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Q9 |
Should the policy cover awards for travel? |
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Q10 |
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Q11 |
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Q12 |
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Q13 |
Are you responding to this consultation as? |
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This section is really important as it helps us to understand more about the people who use this service and who may be affected by any changes. Any responses to these questions will remain confidential, individuals will not be identified and personal details will not be published. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation you do not need to answer these questions. |
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Q15 |
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Q16 |
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Q17 |
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Q18 |
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Any personal information that you have supplied will be held by South Gloucestershire Council in accordance with the Data Protection Act. This information will only be used as part of this exercise and personal information will not be published or passed onto any other organisation. |
Thank you for taking part in this survey. Please press the submit button below to send us your response. |
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