Purpose

The purpose of the report sought approval for changes required
to the Household Support Fund (HSF scheme previously approved for the 2025/26
financial year).

Decision

ORDERED that Executive approve the proposed changes,
listed below, to the Household Support Fund (HSF) delivery plan for 2025/26
previously approved by Executive on 14 May 2025, which would be delivered
between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 4.9)
of the report and that it continued to target the same main groups as before.

 

·        
An increase of £10 per child for those in
receipt of income based free school meals, Council Tax Reduction (CTR),
Universal Credit (UC) or Housing Benefit (HB)

·        
Widen the criteria for pensioner support to
include all on CTR (previously had to have Pension Credit Guarantee Credit as
well) and increase the payment from £50 to £100

·        
Increase the amount provided to singles /
couples in receipt of benefits from £45/£55 to £75/£100

·        
An additional £38,000 to Community Support to
assist with crisis applications

·        
An additional £17,000 allocated to the
provision of third-party support