Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Finance.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council grant delegated authority to the Director Finance in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Council Housing Development & Support Services to agree the scheme for disbursing funding from the fifth Household Support Fund.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which sought Member agreement to delegate authority to the Director Finance in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Council Housing Development & Support Services to agree and disburse funding from the fifth Household Support Fund scheme.

Members noted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had announced a 6-month extension to the Household Support Fund, to run from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024 and given the timing of the announcement, delegated power was being sought to agree the scheme and ensure the money could be used by the 30 September.

Particular reference was made to:-

·         since the report was written, Devon County Council (DCC) had indicated that the Council’s allocation of funding may be £309,000, but the official grant agreement had not yet been received;

·         DCC were required to send their overall delivery plan to the Department for Work and Pensions by 10 May; and

·         support would be provided to a cross section of vulnerable households, including disabled people, care leavers and people with caring responsibilities.

Opposition group leaders spoke on the item and made the following points:-

·         Cllr Mitchell – enquired on how the Council could ensure that those who need support could apply and can get hold of this funding and be directed toward the information.

·         Cllr Moore – welcomed the report but considered the government proposal to be late and too short a time period for support. She enquired if there was any data available from the previous funding schemes to inform on the level of demand and if the Council had previously been able to fulfil all the requests made.

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·         the funding was welcomed and would be put to good use;

·         was the funding similar to the previous household support fund schemes?

·         was the Council likely to receive a top up amount from DCC? and

·         the Council had records of those who had benefited from the schemes and enabled residents to be contacted and advised.

The Leader requested that data on funding allocations made to date be made available to Councillors.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Denning seconded, the recommendations which were voted upon and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council grant delegated authority to the Director Finance in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Council Housing Development & Support Services to agree the scheme for disbursing funding from the fifth Household Support Fund.