Purpose

Gain approval
from the Leader of the Council for the outline spending plans for
Derbyshire County Council's allocation of the Household Support
Fund Grant.
 

Decision

That the Leader of the Council
Approves the outline spending plans for Derbyshire County
Council’s allocation of the Household Support Fund Grant
Extension of £5.404m and agrees that the Director of Public
Health in consultation with the Director of Finance and the
Executive Director of Children’s Services continues to
oversee any adjustment decisions within the scope of the framework
set out by this report, to allow the Council to respond flexibly
and effectively to any challenges, risks and opportunities that
occur during the grant period and maintain the Council’s
ability to swiftly distribute funds to vulnerable
residents.

 

 

Reasons for the decision

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    Many Derbyshire households will
face financial hardship over the coming six months particularly
those including children and pensioners, who would otherwise
struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other
essential living costs or housing costs. It is therefore important
that the Council distributes the funds in a wide-reaching manner to
support vulnerable households and takes the opportunity to boost
the Derbyshire economy.

 

    Failing to distribute the funds to
vulnerable households facing financial pressure may cause residents
to enter crisis, which may put pressure on Council services further
down the line.

 

    The blended approach proposed,
which combines a direct application process as well as targeted
support, will help reach a range of vulnerable people and make it
less likely for people to fall through the gaps.

 

    Delegating the authority to the
Director of Public Health allows the Council to respond flexibly
and effectively to any challenges, risks and opportunities that
occur during the grant period and maintain our ability to swiftly
distribute funds to vulnerable residents.

 

Alternative options considered

          
 Previous DWP grants have required authorities
to allocate a set amount of the funds via vouchers to families and
young people eligible for benefit-related free school meals over
the school holidays. A number of other local authorities across the
country are continuing this approach with plans to use the majority
of their HSF allocation in this way. However, as the fund covers a
wider cohort of vulnerable households who would otherwise struggle
to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential
living costs than previous grants, including those not eligible for
welfare benefits, it is proposed that a blended range methods would
be more effective, while maintaining a smaller element of vouchers
to this group of vulnerable families in January 2025 as a 'winter
grocery support payment’.