Purpose

1.         The
purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the Household
Support Fund (HSF) 7 and make arrangements for delegation of
payment criteria to the to the Corporate Director of Resources,
Corporate Director of Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Public
Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health,
Communities, Leisure, and Libraries.
 
2.         Based on
allocation during previous rounds of HSF, Wiltshire Council will
likely be allocated approximately £4-5m from the Department
for Work and Pensions (DWP). The precise amount will be updated
once known.
 
3.         The Fund
is being provided to support households, who would otherwise
struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other
essential living costs to help them with significantly rising
living costs for the following twelve-month period: 1 April 2025-31
March 2026.

Content

I confirm the decision
to delegate the payment criteria of the Household Support Fund
grant to the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer),
Corporate Director of Care and Wellbeing and the Director of Public
Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health,
Communities, Leisure, and Libraries. 
 
This decision was
published on 19 March 2025 and will take effect from 27 March
2025.

Reasons for the decision

6.         To allow
for allocation of the HSF funding Wiltshire Council will be awarded
by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Alternative options considered

5.         Due to
the nature of the grant requirements of the Household Support Fund,
no other options are considered to be required to be considered at
this stage