Issue - meetings

          The Board received a report from the Operational Director – Finance, which provided updates regarding the delivery of the Government’s Household Support Fund, Discretionary Housing Payments, Universal Credit and the Housing Benefit Local Scheme for War Pensions.

          Following the report presented to the Board in November 2023 which outlined spend up to 30 September 2023, this report provided an update on spend up the end of December 2023. 

          Since the last report there had been a significant increase in Household Support Fund expenditure on vulnerable pensioners, the Discretionary Support Scheme, Free School Meal Vouchers, Public Health and Halton’s Citizen Advice Bureau.  The full details of the spend was outlined in the appendix to the report.

          RESOLVED:  That:

1)    the latest position regarding the Household Support Fund, Discretionary Housing Payments and Universal Credit as outlined in the report, be noted;

2)    the revision to the Household Support Fund spending plan be noted; and

3)    the Executive Board be recommended to approve the continuation of the local scheme, that all of a war disablement pension or war widows’ pension be disregarded for the purposes of calculating household benefit.