Our Ref: 8920  

Dear Enquirer,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Please note, that due to the recent outbreak of Covid-19, there may be a
delay in responding to your request. We appreciate your patience at this
busy period.

Kind regards

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Our Ref: 8920   

Dear Enquirer,  

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST  

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to Local
authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies.  

Right of Access  

Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.  

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and  

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.  

The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.  

The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.  

Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response.  

I would like some information about the Local authority Emergency
Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies your local authority has
received from the government as part of its Covid support measures for
communities.  

If you could answer the following questions by filling in the
attached form I'd be most grateful.  

1) Can you please state  

a) the amount your local authority has received under the above
mentioned scheme, ANSWER: £367,814  

b) when the money was received, ANSWER: 29/07/2020  

and  

c) how much of it has been spent to date? ANSWER: £367,814   

If all of it has been spent, please  

d) can you state by what date the money had been spent?
ANSWER: 02/12/2020  

If less than 51% of the money your local authority received from the
government in this scheme had been spent within 12 weeks of your authority
receiving it, can you  

e) please state why? ANSWER: £185,997 was allocated by week 12 (50.56%).
This was due to the availability of other additional support systems and
grants at the discretion of Local Authorities to support those most in
need. Northumberland was fortunate to receive grant funding and donations
from local private sector organisations and benefactors who were wanting
to support the COVID-19 Community Response through CSR activities and
local charitable programmes. The greatest and most significant factor was
the large army of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Organisation's and
Mutal Aid Community Groups that were providing a high quality, responsive
and appropriate support for residents and communities across
Northumberland.  

2) Can you state how much of these funds that have been awarded to private
citizens who applied for emergency support was  

a) awarded to women ANSWER: £____/  ____% (of all grants awarded) - Data
not captured as a requirement of scheme  

b) awarded to men ANSWER: £____ / ____ % (of all grants awarded) - Data
not captured as a requirement of scheme  

b) awarded to single parents ANSWER: £____ / ____% (of all grants
awarded) - Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  

c) awarded to people with disabilities £____ / ____% (of all grants
awarded) - Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  

3) Can you please state  

a) how many applications in total your local authority received for
emergency grants from members of the public? ANSWER: Data not captured as
a requirement of scheme  

b) how many of these were successful? ANSWER: _____ / _____% (of all
applications) Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  
   

c) what the highest grant was worth you awarded overall?  ANSWER:
£ £978.95 Individual Award, £20,000 Third Party Organisational Grant Award
for to provide Fuel vouchers to individuals. 

4) Can you please state how many people applied for assistance with   

a) food? ANSWER: Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  
   

b) energy? ANSWER: Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  
   

c) accommodation costs? ANSWER: Data not captured as a requirement of
scheme  
   

d) other? ANSWER:  Data not captured as a requirement of scheme  
  

Complaints  

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office:  

Information Governance Office  

Northumberland County Council  

County Hall  

Morpeth  

NE61 2EF  

Email: [1][Northumberland County Council request email]  

Information Commissioner  

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:  

The Information Commissioner's Office  

Wycliffe House  

Water Lane  

Wilmslow  

Cheshire  

SK9 5AF  

Tel: 0303 123 1113  

Email: [2][email address]  

There is no charge for making an appeal.  

Yours faithfully  

FOI Coordinator – Central Team  

Information Governance Office  

Northumberland County Council  

County Hall  

Morpeth  

Northumberland  

NE61 2EF  

Tel: 0345 600 6400  

Email: [3][Northumberland County Council request email]  

Web: [4]http://www.northumberland.gov.uk 

References

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1. mailto:[Northumberland County Council request email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[Northumberland County Council request email]
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