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The fifth tranche of Household
Support Fund grant from the Department for Work and Pensions had
been allocated. This new allocation would cover the period from
April to September 2024, and would be used to continue to provide
essential support to residents across Buckinghamshire. Previous
allocations of the Household Support Fund had been used to provide
support for residents in need of help with food, fuel and other
essential household costs. For the period April 2023 to March 2024,
Buckinghamshire was allocated £4.8m of the Household Support
Fund. The fifth tranche of the Household Support Fund was intended
to provide crisis support to vulnerable households in most need of
support to help with the cost of essential items. Local Authorities
had discretion on exactly how this funding was used within the
scope set out by the Department for Work and Pensions. The fund
must be used to meet immediate needs and help those who were
struggling to afford household essentials including energy and
water bills, food, and wider essentials; and LocalAuthorities
should prioritise support which offered an immediate impact to
those in need.Table 3 in the report set out the proposed allocation
of Household Support Fund for April to September 2024 as
follows:-
 

·        
Helping Hand Scheme

·        
Food support

·        
Voluntary and Community organisations providing free
support to residents e.g. foodbanks

·        
Grant and/or Direct Support for Utility
arrears

·        
Digital Voucher e.g. Discretionary Housing
Payments

·        
Administration and promotional activity
 
This item was taken under the
General Exception rule as the grant received was for use between
April and September 2024 and therefore time critical.
 
RESOLVED –
 
1.
the range of support provided by the Council for individuals
experiencing hardship across the county be noted.
2.
the arrangements for deploying the new Household Support Fund
allocation (1st April to 30th September 2024) from the Department
for Work and Pensions be approved.