Decision details

The committee considered the report which sought approval of the Holiday and Activity Food Programme (HAF) to run an open procurement procedure to spend the total amount of the HAF grant, as allocated by the Department for Education (DfE) each financial year.

The committee asked questions and made comments in respect of:

• The extent of the reach of the scheme, for example into semi-rural and rural areas.
• Future procurement matters and providers of the scheme: it was queried whether various providers could be selected to ensure that a wide variety of young peoples’ hobbies and interests could be met.
• Referrals and attendance and how ‘no shows’ were monitored/followed up.
• The importance of ensuring that those entitled to access the HAF and Food Programme were encouraged to do so.
• Whether an analysis regarding uptake in less urbanised areas had been carried out.
• Whether activities were available to those outside of FSM.
• Funding arrangements.
• The programme was a good example of preventative work, which had been referenced several times during the meeting.
• Service provision and ward analysis data.

In response, officers reported that:

• Appendix 1 of the report provided an evaluation of the HAF and Food Programme, which indicated that 30% of the FSM population attended.  The authority ranked very high in that regard.  Reference was made to the market providers and the significant push made to reach the target population.
• Regarding procurement and providers, it was the officers’ ambition to retain the number of providers currently procured, as well as to introduce more over the next three years.
• ‘No shows’ were followed up with the referrers, for example social workers.
• A written response in respect of uptake in less urbanised areas would be provided.
• It was a requirement that the activities be targeted specifically to FSM recipients; however, there was some flexibility for referrals for others.
• The programme had received a three-year funding extension.
• Service provision had been similar over the years; appendix 2 illustrated the HAF LSOA Mapping data and ward information.

During debate on the item, a friendly amendment was proposed and seconded in respect of recommendation 3, which sought the inclusion of additional wording as follows:

‘Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Children and Families

Committee, for the dispersal of funds and contract awards to providers for the delivery of the Holiday Activity and Food Programme up to the allocated HAF grant amount each financial year this to include a ward-based expenditure analysis on provisions for the years 24/ 25 and 25/26 for comparison purposes’

The amendment became part of the substantive motion.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Children and Families Committee

1. Approve the Supplementary Revenue Estimate Request for Allocation of Additional Grant Funding over £500,000 up to £1,000,000 relating to the 2026/27 Holiday Activity and Food Programme. The estimated amount based on previous years is £900,000.

2. Approve the HAF to be delivered via open procedure from April 2026 to March 2029 plus optional extensions of 3 years.

3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Children and Families Committee, for the dispersal of funds and contract awards to providers for the delivery of the Holiday Activity and Food Programme up to the allocated HAF grant amount each financial year this to include a ward-based expenditure analysis on provisions for the years 24/ 25 and 25/26 for comparison purposes.