Agenda item

Household Support Fund (HSF) 3

Decision:

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a. Noted that the Household Support Fund (3) investment is to be managed locally.

b. Approved the Recommended Scope and Diversity of Distribution as set out in section 4 of this report.

c. Approved the control and oversight approach to be undertaken through a central operational team.

d. Authorised any funds that have not been assigned or committed to by 31^st January 2023, according to the distribution methodology set out in section 4, to be redistributed in line with the wider Department for Work and Pensions Guidelines (attached as Appendix A to the report)

Reason forRecommendations:

· It is recommended that the Household Support Fund (3) is directed to funding to a lower income sector of the working community, and families with children.

· The recommended option seeks to support eligible families, who have children receiving Free School Meals, through the School Holiday Food awards from October until the end of the scheme

· The option also provides alignment to community engagement activity, community hubs, food banks and support for winter emergencies

Alternative Options Considered – The Council could choose not to draw down the funds, but this is not recommended as many vulnerable residents would miss additional support at a time when there are increased concerns regarding the cost-of-living increases. In choosing to draw down the funds and by applying the DWP guidelines and local insights there are three options in terms of distribution of funding to the community, 1) through a highly distributed network, 2) via simplified segmentation, or 3) to the lower income sector. For the reasons set out in section 5 of the report, ‘Issues and Choices’, option 3 is recommended.

Minutes:

The Chair invited Cllr Dorothy Maxwell to address the Executive. Cllr Maxwell spoke to welcome the support for the most vulnerable in society as part of the grant funding process and queried how the grant funding message would be circulated to ensure all those eligible could access payments. Cllr Maxwell also queried what would be done to combat potential fraudulent claims.

The Chair thanked Cllr Maxwell for her contribution before inviting Cllr Lyn Buckingham to address the meeting. Cllr Buckingham also welcomed the report but noted that support services in the community were overstretched and funding for this sector could be of great benefit for residents.

The Chair thanked Cllr Buckingham for her comments before introducing a report that sought approval for the management and distribution of a third tranche of the Household Support Fund grant funding from central government totalling £2.465m to support households in the most need with food and energy bills because of the recent cost of living increases. It was noted that the fund could also be used to support households with essential costs related to those items and other essential household costs.

The Chair noted that the funding would allow for the continuation of the provision of food vouchers during the October half-term for those children eligible for free school meals, an offer the Council would not be in a position to make without this vital grant funding.

Cllr Helen Harrison spoke in support of the fund, noting the success in distributing the first two tranches of grant funding to the most vulnerable families in North Northamptonshire. Cllr Harrison noted that new government guidance would allow the Council to target funding at demographic groups who had yet to receive assistance to date.

Cllr Scott Edwards also spoke in support of the report and recommendations and noted that the continuation of food vouchers for those eligible for free school meals was a positive step that could only be undertaken as a result of this grant funding being provided to the Council.