Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Benefits Manager, who explained that the Household Support Fund (HSF) was first introduced in October 2021 and had been renewed every six months or annually until March 2025. West Lindsey had been successful in distributing over £2m to the residents of the district over the previous HSF schemes. She highlighted that the Household Support Fund 2025-26 was announced by the Government and the details of the fund were clarified on 5 March 2025 to commence 1 April. The fund would run for 12 months to 31 March 2026 and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) had been awarded £9.63m. The funding would be received from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who issued guidance on how the money may be spent. LCC had been through internal governance processes and had proposed that each district would get a fund to distribute to its residents. It was estimated that West Lindsey would receive funding of approximately £400,000.

Members heard that in using the learning from the previous six HSF distribution processes, it was known that to reach as many residents as possible partner organisations such as food banks and charitable organisations needed to be involved. It was also known that a costly resource was needed if the Local Authority chose to accept direct applications from residents wishing to apply for funding. The report recommended that to reach as many residents as possible, whilst keeping the administration costs controllable, funding was distributed via food banks and voluntary organisations with at least one of the voluntary organisations administering an application-based process. Under the 2025-26 fund, the DWP had asked that local authorities considered distributing some of the funds to organisations or processes that could help prevent households needing extra funding for food and utilities, and it was suggested that the Council partnered with such organisation(s) that could help with this.

The Chairman thanked the Benefits Manager for her introduction and detailed report, and invited comments from the Committee.

Members expressed their support for the ongoing funding and appreciated the work over previous tranches of funding which had led to an efficient and fair approach to the distribution of the monies. The element of preventative action was much welcomed, with Members recognising that assisting families to avoid the need for crisis intervention was far more useful than simply responding to a crisis. Partnered organisations were also praised for the work they undertook and recognised for the invaluable knowledge they brought with them.

In response to a question relating to the distribution of funds to those families who accessed free school meals, it was explained that Lincolnshire County Council would manage that aspect, and there had been contingencies built into the funding, in recognition of the increasing number of families requiring free school meal assistance. In response to a question regarding the differing approaches between food bank providers, it was also clarified that the Council only worked with trusted partners where their procedures were known and supported, which included providing advice, guidance, training opportunities and suchlike. With the focus being on preventative measures as well, the pool of trusted partners was being widened to encourage that element of work.

Note:              Councillor T. Smith declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he volunteered at the Caistor food bank, clarifying that he had no involvement in the management or distribution of funding.

Members of the Committee enquired as to what was considered to be preventative action, as there could be differing interpretations. It was explained that, whilst there was no prescribed definition provided by Government, local authorities across Lincolnshire were working together to establish a common approach to the preventative elements, in order to avoid a ‘postcode lottery’ for residents in different areas. It was highlighted that there had been appointed a performance management team for the current round of funding, meaning councils would be monitored and assessed on how the scheme was managed and where the monies were distributed.

With no further questions or comments, and having been moved and seconded, the Chairman took the vote. It was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the delivery of the Household Support Fund 7, to run to 31 March 2026, be approved; and

b)    should there be relatively minor amendments made to the scheme, unless considered ‘significantly material’, the Benefits Manager, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Assets (Section 151 Officer), be delegated to implement such changes after consultation with the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee Chairman, to ensure the scheme can adapt to requirements where the need to respond promptly is required, as well as remaining consistent with principles of the Lincolnshire Districts scheme.