Purpose

Citizens Advice New Forest have received
funding for one year to fund a Financial Capability Officer for 21
hours per week. The role will work with households struggling
financially and provide specialist advice and support. By utilising
residual government funding to support households, the Council
could enhance this role by increasing the hours worked to 37 per
week, thereby providing greater targeted support to
households.

Decision

On 24 July 2025, Cllr Jeremy Heron, the
Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate made the following
decision:

To approve a payment of £15,000 to Citizens Advice New Forest
to support and enhance their Financial Capability project
work.

Any member of the Council, who is not a Portfolio Holder, who
considers that this decision should be reviewed should give notice
using the call-in facility at the top of this page on the
Council’s intranet / extranet site.

Alternatively, notice can be given to the Monitoring Officer (Matt
Wisdom) (in writing or by e-mail) to be received ON OR BY 5.15 pm
on 31 July 2025.

Details of the document the Portfolio Holder considered are
attached below.

Reasons for the decision

To support vulnerable households across the
district who are struggling financially.

Alternative options considered

The funding available to the Council is
restricted to only be used to support households who are
experiencing financial hardship. This project supports this
criteria, targeting support at those that need it most.