FOI003010 FOI Revenue and Benefits

I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act to kindly request information relating to your Local Welfare Assistance Scheme.  

1.    What was the total spend on your scheme in 2025/26?

2.    How many applications did you receive to this scheme in 2025/26?

3.    How many applications were successful in 2025/26?

4.    What percentage of your entire scheme (including food, fuel and furniture support) was delivered via:
•    Cash
•    Vouchers
•    In-kind provision of goods

5.    How much was spent on the provision of furniture, white goods and furnishings (including flooring and window coverings) in 2025/26? This includes cash, vouchers and the provision of the item itself.
(a)    What percentage of your furniture and appliance spend only was: 
•    Cash
•    Vouchers
•    Provision of the item itself
(b)    Please tick (or otherwise indicate) which furniture/appliance types you provide and tell us whether these are new or preloved: 
    Cash    Voucher    Item - New    Item - Preloved/second hand
Cooker                
Fridge                
Freezer                
Fridge Freezer                
Washing Machine                
Sofa                
Bed                
Wardrobe                
Chest of drawers                
Table and chairs                
Flooring – carpets or lino                
Window coverings – curtains or blinds                

6.    (a) What percentage of your 2025/26 spend was funded by your core spending power (as opposed to additional Govt. funding provided via Section 31 grants, such as the Household Support Fund)

(b) What percentage of your 2025/26 spend came from the Household Support Fund?

(c) What other sources did you use to fund your LWA scheme in 2025/26 and what percentage of the scheme did each source make up respectively?

7.    Are you maintaining your LWA scheme in 2026/27?

8.    What is your budget for 2026/27?

9.    What percentage of your 2026/27 budget is funded by your core spending power?
If this budget is not 100% core funded, how is the remaining budget funded?

10.    If you have closed your LWA scheme is the offer of the local welfare scheme fully reflected in your CRF offer. How did you justify this to your elected members

11.    Would you support a statutory duty on local welfare support? If yes, are there any caveats? If no, can you explain what you believe the barriers are?

If you have any further comments about LWA support or the Household Support Fund, please share it here.

I would like my comments to remain anonymous: Yes/No