Issue - meetings

Household Support Fund

 

 

Meeting: 05/09/2023 - Cabinet (Item 9)

9 Household Support Fund: 2023/24 Full Year Allocation and Free School Meals - Amendment pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report set out proposals to amend the use of the Household Support Fund (HSF) for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 to ensure the grant was disbursed in full to Medway’s residents.

On 4 April 2023, the Cabinet agreed plans for the Household Support Fund for 2023/2024, part of which had included the provision of grants to residents. However, uptake of that provision had reduced, and a higher proportion of those applying had been unable to demonstrate hardship to be eligible for an award. Consequently, the spend overall for the Council’s total allocation was lower than anticipated and amendments to the arrangements were necessary, in order to ensure the Council disbursed its allocation in full to the residents of Medway.

 

Decision

number:

 

Decision:

 

147/2023

The Cabinet agreed the proposals set out in section 5 of the report as the Council’s approach to delivering the Household Support Fund and to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise and implement these proposals.

148/2023

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to submit a revised Delivery Plan for Medway to the Department for Work and Pensions in line with the Cabinet decision on this report.

149/2023

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to disburse £150,000 to members of the Medway Food Partnership.

150/2023

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to determine how to disburse any residual balance should it become clear that the activity in this report would not utilise the allocation in full.

 

Reasons:

Given the lack of cost to the local taxpayer it is appropriate for the Council to introduce these measures to support our most vulnerable residents.