Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 28, 2024

Purpose: The report sought approval of the Household Support Fund Scheme (HSF) for the second half of 2024/25 and sought delegated authority be provided to the Director of Finance to make any modifications or minor revisions to the scheme and make decisions in respect of any remaining funds to ensure they are distributed in line with the guidance and within the defined timescales. Any revisions or modifications would be made in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.  

Content: ORDERED that Executive:   1.    Approves the HSF delivery plan for 2024/25, which would be delivered between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025 and was set out in Table 1 of the report to target the main groups below where each has a Council Tax or rental liability for their home:   ·         Families with children in receipt of benefits. Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Reduction but not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. ·         Pensioners who are not in receipt of Council Tax Reduction subject to the qualifying criteria (listed in table 1, para 4.7). ·         Singles/Couples which includes those of pensionable age in receipt of benefits. ·         Application-based awards for residents not in receipt of CTR or other benefits   2.    Approves that any remaining funds following implementation of the delivery plan were allocated to Council Tax accounts, with a then current award of CTR and where an outstanding balance remained following the issue of a summons in the 2024/25 financial year. The Council also reserved the right to widen the group to include those accounts not in receipt of CTR. Priority would be given to taxpayers who did not receive HSF from the allocation that remained in September 2024, with the intention that the balances for those in each group would be reduced by the same extent across both schemes so far as is possible.   3.    Approves that delegated authority is provided to the Director of Finance to make any modifications or minor revisions to the scheme and make decisions in respect of any remaining funds to ensure they were distributed in line with the guidance and within the defined timescales. Any revisions or modifications would be made in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.