Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations

1.    That the Cabinet consider the proposals for use of the COMF and agree in principal the areas of proposed investment and allocations.

2.    That Cabinet gives delegated authority to the Director of Public Health with agreement from the Section 151 Officer to commit the unallocated COMF funding, and any underspend from approved allocations, in line with grant conditions.

Consideration was given to the report which set out proposals for the remaining unallocated spend from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) and the reasons behind the proposals. The Council had been eligible for payments from the Fund to support proactive containment and intervention measures since October 2020.

£5.177m had been spent in 2020/21 with £3.469m being carried forward for use in 2021/22. £2.241m had been committed and £1.228m remained uncommitted. An additional £2.129m of COMF funding had been allocated for 2021/22 meaning the total uncommitted Fund for 2021/22 was £3.357m. The money would help continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support Public Health activities.

Commitments were already in place to support the Test and Trace team (up until 31st March 2022.) The options for expenditure of the remaining COMF allocation were broken down into three themes: support for children and young people, support for adults and all age universal support.  Further details for each theme were set out in the report submitted.

It was confirmed that a seminar had been hosted by the Leader for all Members as part of the consultation process.

Resolved:-

1.    That the Cabinet consider the proposals for use of the COMF and agree in principle the areas of proposed investment and allocations.

2.    That Cabinet gives delegated authority to the Director of Public Health with agreement from the Section 151 Officer to commit the unallocated COMF funding, and any underspend from approved allocations, in line with grant conditions.