Decision details

Buckinghamshire Council recognised the growing pressures being faced by its residents linked to the increases in the cost of living.  The Council had developed and delivered a range of initiatives this year to support residents and staff in regard to these cost of living pressures and had committed to ensuring the continuation of its Helping Hand service to provide support to residents who needed it most.

The Council was pleased to receive confirmation of the fourth tranche of Household Support Fund grant allocation for the period from April 2023 to March 2024, which would be used to continue to provide essential support to residents during the year. This built on the funding the Council had received from Government since 2020, initially through the Winter Grant and Local Support Grant and subsequently through the Household Support Fund.

Previous allocations of the Household Support Fund were awarded for a 6-month period only. For the period 1st October 2022 to 31st March 2023, Buckinghamshire was awarded £2.4m of funding from the Household Support Fund to provide support for residents in need of help with food, fuel and other essential household costs.

The Cabinet report outlined the support the Council had provided, and continued to provide, to support residents with cost-of-living pressures. The report also detailed how the previous Household Support Fund allocation was used and set out a proposed use of the new allocation between 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024, ensuring that this would be targeted to residents in need of support and in line with the Government guidance.

RESOLVED –

1)      That the range of support provided by Buckinghamshire Council for individuals experiencing hardship across the County be NOTED.

2)      That the arrangements for deploying the new Household Support Fund allocation be APPROVED.