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The Chair accepted as
an item of urgent business the DWP Household Support Fund October
2024 – March 2025 Proposal.
 
If Cabinet did not
urgently consider this matter, there would be a pause in all
programmes of support funded by the Household Support Fund,
including the provision of free school meals and the food vouchers
over October half term for all eligible children.
 
The Public Health
Specialist was in attendance to present
a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities / Cabinet
Member for Communities and Cooperation which sought approval to
accept a further six-month tranche of the Housing Support Fund to
be spent between October 2024 and March 2025. The report also
outlined the proposed spending of the grant to reach people in
greatest need.
 
Since the beginning of
the Covid 19 pandemic the Council had overseen substantial
expenditure to support communities in greatest need. This had come
mainly from Government funding through the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA). Most recently, this funding had been through the
DWP’s Household Support Fund (HSF).
 
On 2nd
September 2024, the Secretary of State had announced that there
would be a further six-month tranche of HSF to be spent between October 2024 and March 2025.
 
The total funding
nationally was the same as previous tranches of funding and the
Council expected to receive the same amount as the current six
months (April 2024 – Sept 2024): £2,337,383.85.
However, the Government would confirm the exact amount in due
course.
 
The Council was also
awaiting final guidance on eligible spend, but it was expected to
be the same as previously; to support households, who would
otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential
utility bills, or meet other essential living or housing
costs.  The fund could also be used to provide supplementary
signposting advice and support.
 
Consultation had
recently taken place with key partners and portfolio holders for
Communities and Cooperation, Children’s Services and
Corporate and Finance. A package of support had
been recommended, building on previous funding allocations
and targeted to reach people in greatest need. Seven programmes
had been proposed. These were:
 

a.   
Targeted support for low-income families through the provision of
food e-vouchers during school holidays

b.   
Household Assistance Fund

c.   
Warm Homes

d.   
Support for the borough’s food network, digital assistance,
and essential items
 

e.   
Prevention work in the food network, schools and warm spaces

f.    
Employment Support

g.   
Christmas Toy Appeal
 
Resolved:

1.   
That the HSF grant be accepted;

2.   
That the seven programmes for DWP Household Support Fund spending
October 24 – March 2025, as outlined in this report be
approved;

3.   
That the Director of Public Health and Communities in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cooperation be given
delegated authority to spend the funding in line with the seven
programmes listed below;

4.   
That the Director of Public Health and Communities in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cooperation be given
delegated authority to move funding between the different
programmes of work to ensure effective spending and delivery.
 
Reason for
decision:
Cabinet was required
to agree on how the HSF would be spent
as the Government was expecting local authorities to start
distributing HSF by 1st October 2024.  In particular, funding needed to be agreed upon so that arrangements could be made to
provide targeted support for low-income families through the
provision of food e-vouchers during the school holidays in October
2024.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
Although the grant
funding, if accepted, could be spent on
alternative suitable projects, it was not considered that there
were any such alternatives available.