Minutes

4        SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES – The Director: Transformation and Outcomes submitted a report providing an overview of the latest extension of the Department for Work and Pension Household Support Fund, and presenting an option on how part of this phase of the fund would be used to support families.

In October 2021 the government announced the launch of a £421 million Household Support Fund (HSF) to support those most in need over winter 2021, covering the period 6 October to 31 March 2022. Councils were given discretion to use the funding flexibly, with the expectation that it be primarily used to support households in the most immediate need with food, energy, water and other essential household bills.

Two allocations of HSF were made in 2022/23 each for a six-month period (HSF2 and HSF3), followed by an allocation for the whole of 2023/24 (HSF4) and a further allocation covering the first six-month period of 2024/2025 (HSF5). All were accompanied with guidance that the fund should primarily be used to support households in the most need, particularly those including children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy bills, food and water bills.

The local delivery model for the fund was approved by the Children and Families and Finance and Governance Cabinet Members (minute 1 refers) and launched in North Lincolnshire on 29 November 2021.

Members had received regular progress reports on the delivery of the schemes to provide assurance that they had been targeted towards and supported the most vulnerable and had been delivered in accordance with all associated requirements.                   

Resolved – (a) That as part of the local delivery model for families from HSF6, that the proposal that support be provided in the form of Welfare Assistance and Healthy and Energy Efficient Cooking courses, be approved.