spend patterns with the intention to move towards a more appropriate needs based allocation for the permanent arrangements. Financial Management Approach 4.2 In order to achieve consistency of service provision across Scotland, Local Authorities are requested to apply a financial management approach to managing Community Care Grant and Crisis Grant budgets that is based on similar principles across Scotland. The Scottish Welfare Fund budgets are ring fenced. This means that 4.3 the monies allocated to authorities for the purpose of delivering the national scheme cannot be used for any other purpose. 4.4 Consistent with 4.2, Local Authorities are requested to establish and monitor at least two budget headings for Care Grant “Community Provision” and Grant further derivatives of these may also be of “Crisis Provision”, benefit to a service provider and be appropriate and helpful to individual authorities. The original budget for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants will be the baseline allocation for each individual authority. Authorities are free to vire between Community Care Grants and Crisis Grant budget headings without restriction. It would, however, be the obvious aim of the national scheme over time to seek a real terms reduction in expenditure on crisis and witness an increase in proportion of such expenditures as are necessary on preventative spend in terms of Community Care Grants. 4.5 Although the application of virement can be helpful for monitoring purposes, Local Authorities should take decisions to apply priorities and cap spend at Scottish Welfare Fund level within the Authority. (i.e. Community Care Grants & Crisis Grants collectively). This means that expenditure on Crisis Grants cannot be suspended whilst resources remain within the Community Care Grant budget heading. 4.6 It is envisaged that budget holders will assess the demand pattern of actual activity against budget profile on a month to month basis throughout the financial year and make a monthly decision accordingly on whether it is possible to make awards for high priority applications only, high and medium or high, medium and low. The priority can be set at different levels for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. We would not expect Local Authorities to reject any application which has been judged to match the priority level applying at the time the application is considered if funds remain in either the Community Care Grant or the Crisis Grant budget headings. 4.7 It is expected that Local Authorities should manage expenditure in such a way as to ensure effective budgetary management of funds over the financial year. In particular, it is expected that authorities should manage expenditure to ensure that high priority Crisis Grants can be met over the financial year in accordance with the priority ratings at para 7.4.
spend patterns with the intention to move towards a more appropriate needs based allocation for the permanent arrangements. Financial Management Approach 4.2 In order to achieve consistency of service provision across Scotland, Local Authorities are requested to apply a financial management approach to managing Community Care Grant and Crisis Grant budgets that is based on similar principles across Scotland. 4.3 The Scottish Welfare Fund budgets are ring fenced. This means that the monies allocated to authorities for the purpose of delivering the national scheme cannot be used for any other purpose. 4.4 Consistent with 4.2, Local Authorities are requested to establish and monitor at least two budget headings for “Community Care Grant Provision” and “Crisis Grant Provision”, further derivatives of these may also be of benefit to a service provider and be appropriate and helpful to individual authorities. The original budget for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants will be the baseline allocation for each individual authority. Authorities are free to vire between Community Care Grants and Crisis Grant budget headings without restriction. It would, however, be the obvious aim of the national scheme over time to seek a real terms reduction in expenditure on crisis and witness an increase in proportion of such expenditures as are necessary on preventative spend in terms of Community Care Grants. 4.5 Although the application of virement can be helpful for monitoring purposes, Local Authorities should take decisions to apply priorities and cap spend at Scottish Welfare Fund level within the Authority. (i.e. Community Care Grants & Crisis Grants collectively). This means that expenditure on Crisis Grants cannot be suspended whilst resources remain within the Community Care Grant budget heading. 4.6 It is envisaged that budget holders will assess the demand pattern of actual activity against budget profile on a month to month basis throughout the financial year and make a monthly decision accordingly on whether it is possible to make awards for high priority applications only, high and medium or high, medium and low. The priority can be set at different levels for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. We would not expect Local Authorities to reject any application which has been judged to match the priority level applying at the time the application is considered if funds remain in either the Community Care Grant or the Crisis Grant budget headings. 4.7 It is expected that Local Authorities should manage expenditure in such a way as to ensure effective budgetary management of funds over the financial year. In particular, it is expected that authorities should manage expenditure to ensure that high priority Crisis Grants can be met over the financial year in accordance with the priority ratings at para 7.4.