Issue details

Household Support Fund

 

 

Purpose of Report:

 

a)    To update the Leader in relation to the funding received from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) known as the Household Support Fund (HSF).

 

b)    To inform the Leader of the purpose of the Fund to provide support to households who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs or housing costs (in exceptional cases of genuine emergency) this winter.

 

c)    To seek approval from the Leader to expend the DWP funding in line with the spending plan detailed in this report.

 

d)    To seek authorisation to spend the £900k noted as ‘Not yet allocated’ in the spending plan on free school meal vouchers to be purchased in the scheme delivery period, i.e., before 31st March 2022, to be used in April easter Holidays.

 

e)    To update the Leader on the further work being carried out alongside the immediate delivery of the Household Support to consider other hardship funds in response to the Poverty Summit.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure/savings > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/11/2021

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
The DWP has announced this funding with short notice for Local Authorities to make decisions surrounding it and requested Local Authorities submit spending plans by the 29th of October 2021. Funding must be spent by the 31st March 2021 with the delivery plan to start imminently. The Household Support Fund will provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support this winter.

Scrutiny Committee: Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee;

Decision due: 19 Dec 2021 by Leader of the Council

Lead director: Executive Director, People Services

Department: People Services

Contact: Keith Leyland Email: keith.leyland@sheffield.gov.uk Tel: 07880784436.

Date agenda documents available: 19/11/21

Decisions

Documents