Purpose

1.         The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the Household Support Fund (HSF) 7 and make arrangements for delegation of payment criteria to the to the Corporate Director of Resources, Corporate Director of Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure, and Libraries.

2.         Based on allocation during previous rounds of HSF, Wiltshire Council will likely be allocated approximately £4-5m from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The precise amount will be updated once known.

3.         The Fund is being provided to support households, who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs to help them with significantly rising living costs for the following twelve-month period: 1 April 2025-31 March 2026.

Decision

I confirm the decision to delegate the payment criteria of the Household Support Fund grant to the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer), Corporate Director of Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure, and Libraries. 

This decision was published on 19 March 2025 and will take effect from 27 March 2025.

Reasons for the decision

6.         To allow for allocation of the HSF funding Wiltshire Council will be awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Alternative options considered

5.         Due to the nature of the grant requirements of the Household Support Fund, no other options are considered to be required to be considered at this stage