Decision details

The Local Assistance Network (LAN) was established in 2013 to replace a number of discretionary benefits for households in crisis situations which had previously been available through the benefits system.  A ring-fenced grant to support this spending was originally provided by the Department of Work and Pensions but this was removed in 2015.  Although the scale of the County Council’s commitment has reduced since then, and following a Cabinet Member decision in December 2018, the LAN budget is currently £200,000 per annum. 

The Cabinet Member will be asked to agree to the further reduction of Local Assistance Network (LAN) funding to £100,000 per annum from 2020/21.

Cabinet considered a report by Executive Director of Adults and Health.

Cabinet approved that the fund available for the Local Assistance Network grant allocations for 2019/20 be £100,000 and for the fund to be allocated in line with the priorities identified in section 3. of the report.

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019