MINUTE of CABINET

Minute of Meeting held at 10.00am in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Giffnock on 14February2019.

Present:Councillor Tony Buchanan (Leader)Councillor Alan LaffertyCouncillor Caroline BamforthCouncillor Colm MerrickCouncillor Danny DevlinCouncillor Paul O’KaneCouncillor Buchanan, Leader, in the ChairAttending:Lorraine McMillan, Chief Executive; Caroline Innes, Deputy Chief Executive; Margaret McCrossan, Head of Accountancy (Chief Financial Officer); Louise Pringle, Head of Communities, Revenues and Change; Brian Dunigan, Money Advice and Rights Team Manager; and Paul O’Neil, Committee Services Officer.

REQUEST TO RECORD PROCEEDINGS

The Leader intimated that a request had been received for permission to audio record themeeting.

Having given consideration to the request the Cabinet decided that permission be denied.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
There were no declarations of interest intimated.

SCOTTISH WELFARE FUND UPDATE.
The Cabinet considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive, seeking approval to use resources from the Welfare Reform contingency provision in order to meet a shortfall in Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) resources for 2018/19, drivenby higher than usual levels of customer demand.

The report explained that the SWF comprised of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants and explained that SWF was part of the Scottish Government’s effort to mitigate some of the impact of welfare reform on the country’s most vulnerable residents.

Whilst noting details about the Council’s monthly spend on each type of grant, the report highlighted the two primary reasons for the increased demand to the SWF, indicated that between April and December 2018, 242 Community Care grants and 366 Crisis Grants were awardedby the Council and stated that SWF spend to the end of 2018 was £240,000.

However, the report indicated that based on projections of increased demand to year-end, the expected shortfall for 2018/19 was currently forecast as £41,921.

Approval was therefore being sought to draw down up to £50,000 additional funding from welfare contingency resources in 2018/19 in discussion with the Head of Accountancy.

The Cabinet approved allocations up to £50,000 being drawn down from Welfare Reform contingency resources for 2018/19, to cover a projected shortfallin Scottish Welfare Fund funding.

CHAIR

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