Decision details

The council undertakes promotion of the work of food banks to encourage the community to donate food.

Further exploration of use of Charitable Funds to support local food banks.

The Council provides grant funding of an average of £2.5k per food bank ( total of £ 47.5k) upon request to match fund grant provided by Wiltshire Community Foundation. This to be funded from the local welfare assistance budget reducing this budget to £100k.

Council offers food banks the opportunity to take grant funding in the form of food direct from suppliers from the Council’s wholesale suppliers.

The widespread effects of the Covid-19 virus mean that there are a number of vulnerable households who need to self isolate and have not been able to source food or other supplied from either friends and family or the voluntary and community sector.In addition there has been a significant increase in the number of Wiltshire households who have made a claim for state benefits due to loss of income through loss of employment. This has led to a dramatic increase in demand for food provided by food banks , in some cases a 300% increase being reported. This is talking place at a time when donations and normal supply of food to food banks has tailed off due to the impact of the crisis.

Nine food banks have approached Wiltshire Community Foundation for grant funding to pay for restocking supplies. Wiltshire Community Foundation are providing grant funding of varying amounts but about £ 2.5k per food bank. Rather than providing grants for food stock they normally provide funding for food bank infrastructure/ running cots to ensure sustainability. Therefore, via the Community Resilience Hub, Wiltshire Community Foundation has approached the Council to enquire whether the Council would match fund so that the Council is paying for the food whilst the Wiltshire Community Foundation provides funding to maintain food bank operations. To date the Wiltshire community foundation has provided just under £ 20,000 directly to food banks in Wiltshire.

Food banks have reported a fall in donations as well as an increase in demand. The Council can help by promoting the work of food banks in the County.

The Council can investigate and support food banks to seek additional charitable funding to help them maintain their food stocks. This work will be undertaken by the Council’s community engagement managers working in the respective localities.

The Council is investigating whole sale food supply as a means of providing the food for emergency food parcels. This supply may offer economies that could be .made available for food banks.

If the Council is minded to provide direct grant funding to food banks it would have to do so for all 19 subject to request. If that was based on £ 2.5k per food bank that would equate to £47.5k. This would be new unbudgeted expenditure for the Council but could be funded from the increased local welfare assistance (increase from £50K to £150K as at the 1st April 2020) budget as in effect the ability of food banks to provide food for the most vulnerable will mitigate the call on that budget and scheme. It would demonstrate the Council’s commitment to grant funding services for the most vulnerable households in the County..

I confirm that in making this decision I have considered the following in line with Wiltshire Council’s Constitution:

Key decision requirements: Y

Views of relevant cabinet member(s), committee chairman, area board(s): Gold meeting of 11 April considered this proposal


Consideration of the area boards and delegated decision checklist for officers on the issue of when and how to involve local councillors and area boards in decisions about local services: NA

Implication of any council policy, initiative, strategy or procedure: This is a new grant offer to meet the needs of vulnerable households in emergency situation

Consultation in accordance with requirements and expectations of consultation with the public:Relevant heads of service and directors have been consulted

Range of options available:Given the unprecedented circumstances this is considered to be the appropriate option at this time. Others are examined below.

Staffing, financial and legal implications:Finance were fully consulted in the decision making process

Risk assessment and equality implications: The risk of not providing food to vulnerable households and the financial risks to the Council are mitigated by this proposal.

Involvement of statutory officers and/or directors: Yes

Regional or national guidance from other bodies:Limited regional and national advice available although similar approached are being adopted by other LA

The council’s constitution: Yes

This contract is suitable for execution under the e-signature process:NA

The Council could make funding available to Area boards for them to prioritise response to provide food for vulnerable households. This was discounted as there is no guarantee the funding would find its way to food banks and thus would not meet identified need nor match fund other charitable funding sources.

The Council could increase the local welfare assistance scheme budget still further to meet needs of vulnerable households who need food. Again this would not maximise overall funding available to meet neds and as such was discounted.