Issue - meetings

The Committee heard from the Benefits Manager regarding the details of Household Support Fund 6 and seeking approval for a scheme to start distribution of the funds. It was explained that this was the sixth round of Household Support Fund (commonly known as HSF) which started in 2021, with the current round due to run from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. Under previous rounds, over £1.8m had been distributed to West Lindsey residents and HSF6 would grant a further £200k to distribute. This amount could be slightly more depending on how much the County Council distributed to families in receipt of free school meals. It was highlighted that the final distribution amount would not be confirmed until January 2025.

Members heard that HSF5 had been extremely successful and ended on 30 September, it was recommended that the current fund followed the same distribution method as in HSF5. The evidence available from HSF5 showed that the application-based process reached 477 households, 309 of which had a person with a long-term health condition. The breakdown of households showed 270 families, 109 couples and 98 single people. The funds distributed though food banks, charities, and voluntary organisations provided a further 1200 offerings of help to families in the district, and in addition to this, 35,000 children across Lincolnshire who were entitled to Free School meals received a voucher for £110 through their school or nursery.

The recommendation for HSF6 to mirror HSF5 would mean 60% of the West Lindsey funds would be distributed via an application-based process, 35% would be distributed via food banks, charities, and voluntary organisations, and 5% would be retained until March for contingencies and to cover West Lindsey administration of the scheme. It was also asked that the Committee approved for non-material changes or minor adjustments to the scheme to be made by the Benefits Manager in conjunction with the Director of Change Management, ICT and Regulatory Services, after consultation with the Committee Chairman.

Members of the Committee expressed their outright support for the fund and highlighted the need for continued lobbying that further funds would continue to be available. The reduced amount compared to previous rounds was noted to be disappointing, particularly in view of increased energy costs over the winter period causing financial hardship for more households. With unanimous support, and having been proposed, seconded, and voted upon, it was

            RESOLVED that

a)    the delivery of the Household Support Fund 6, to run to 31 March 2025, be approved; and

b)    where there were relatively minor amendments made to the scheme, unless these were considered ‘significantly material’, authority be delegated to the Benefits Manager in consultation with the Director of Change Management, ICT and Regulatory Services, to implement these changes after consultation with the Committee Chairman. This was to ensure the scheme could adapt to requirements where the need to respond promptly was required, as well as remaining consistent with principles of the Lincolnshire Districts scheme.