Decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources has considered a report setting out the context, considerations and rationale for the proposed local approach to the allocation of the Household Support Fund Phase 5 (HSF5).

Since December 2020, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have provided local authorities with grants to support vulnerable households. The Household Support Fund (HSF) succeeded the Covid Winter Package (CWP) and the Local Support Grant (LSG).

On 6 March 2023, in the Government’s Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that the HSF would be extended from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024. Stockport’s allocation for HSF5 is £2.163m. As with previous extensions, the DWP stipulated that this is a new grant subject to its own grant conditions.

HSF5 funding will be supplemented by £0.5m approved as part of the 2024/25 Budget to fund positive investment and £0.068m from existing cash limit budget held by the Resident Advice Support team. The additional funding will be used alongside HSF5 funding to provide support to vulnerable residents and ensure this support (albeit at a much reduced amount) covers a further 6 months when HSF5 ends in September.

Following learning from HSF4 plus engagement with key stakeholders including Senior Leaders, Cabinet Members and Trusted Partners, the report sets out recommended delivery programme for HSF5 to ensure that effective delivery and maximised support to vulnerable households aligned to the grant conditions set by DWP.

A HSF5 delivery plan will be submitted to DWP on 10 May as required by the grant conditions.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources has given approval to the delivery plan for HSF5 as detailed in Section 8 of the report.

Alternative options considered

None