Issue - meetings

          The Board considered an update regarding delivery of the Government’s Household Support Fund and progress with Discretionary Housing Payments between 1 April 2025 and 30 September 2025. This included the breakdown of spending for the Discretionary Support Scheme which included school meal vouchers and foodbanks. The Household Support Fund will be replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund and it was expected that Halton would receive the same amount, but it may be less effective as rents increase with inflation.

          The following additional information was provided in response to Member’s questions:

• Regarding foodbanks, it was clarified that Runcorn Food Bank had not spent all their allocation yet, but it was expected that they would.
• Both Widnes and Runcorn’s foodbanks received the same amount of funding. 
• When the Household Support Fund was introduced, the Council involved may third sector parties including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. However, the money could not be used to fund salaries of those who worked in the third sector.
• Free school meals took up £1 million of the Household Support Fund’s payments and £500,000 was given to pensioners.
• There will be new Government guidance regarding payments from Government Funds.
• It was confirmed that the Team’s staffing structure had stated the same but there was a vacancy following a retirement.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.