Issue - meetings

            The Board was advised that on 23 March 2022, the Government announced an extension to the Household Support Fund, which previously operated from October 2021 to March 2022. The Fund was intended to support vulnerable households particularly those including children and pensioners.

            The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had issued guidance and grant allocations for councils, with the grant funding covering the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. Halton’s allocation of grant funding was £1,297,880 of which 5% was permitted to provide for the costs of administering the grant. A spending plan had been prepared, as set out in the Appendix, regarding how the grant funding might be utilised via a combination of Council departments and voluntary sector partners, to deliver help and assistance to vulnerable households over the six month period. The plan would also provide a basis for monitoring spending against the grant, as required by the DWP and ensure that it was fully utilised in accordance with the grant guidance by 30 September 2022.

            In order to ensure at least one third was allocated for vulnerable households with children, free school meal vouchers of £12 per week would once again be provided to approximately 7,500 eligible pupils at an estimated cost of £630,000 (summer half term holidays and summer school holidays). To support vulnerable pensioner households with at least one third of funding, all 4,303 pensioners currently receiving Council Tax Reduction would be provided with an award of £120. It was estimated that this would deliver approximately £516,360. The remaining grant (up to a third) would be used to assist other vulnerable households.

            A progress report regarding delivery of the Household Support Fund would be presented to the Board on 6 September 2022.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    progress with delivery of the Household Support Fund, as outlined in the report, be noted; and

2.    a further progress report be brought to the next meeting of the Board.