Decision

That the Household
Support Fund (HSF5) for 6 months from 1 October 2024 be allocated
as follows:
 
1.
       
Fuel support £240,000.

 
2.
       
Food vouchers issued through Family Hub £30,000.

 
3.
       
Care experienced young people £63,600.

 
4.
       
Financial support for households with acute financial challenges
(All household types, applications via partners)
£145,000.

 
5.
       
Households, who are liable for Council Tax and entitled to Working
Age Council Tax Support at 1 October 2024: £450,000 (a
£75 payment credited to their Council Tax account).

 

6.        
Essentials linked to energy and water e.g., warm clothing, ovens,
for those in receipt of a disability benefit or children under 5-
now funded from Welfare Support as an alternative to HSF funding,
which is needed for Pensioners (para 1).

 
7.
       
Provision of additional debt and benefit advice £63,750.

 
8.
       
Food banks £94,000.

 
9.
       
Social supermarkets £77,000.

 
10.
     Housing costs
– rent in advance, where required to households who are
excluded the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme as they are not
in receipt of welfare benefits - now funded from Welfare Support as
an alternative to HSF funding, which is needed for Pensioners (para
1).

 
11.
     Funding for a Torbay
Food Alliance Coordinator Post (up to 31 March 2025)
£15,000.

 

12.     Funding for the
provision of “Warm Spaces” £20,000. Whilst this
leaves no contingency and this £20,000 payment is therefore
being funded by a payment from the Welfare Support budget to ensure
that the money becomes available now, it is anticipated that there
may be sufficient remaining Household Support Fund to reimburse the
Council before the scheme ends in March 2025. That will be
dependant on the level of demand from pensioners for fuel support
(paragraph 1).