Decision details

The report will provide details on the Government Household Support Fund 3 allocation for Buckinghamshire and detail options for the usage of this fund to support financially vulnerable residents of Buckinghamshire during the Fund period 1st October 2022 – 31st March 2023.

The Council recognised the growing pressures being faced by residents linked to the increases in the cost of living.   The Cabinet report summarised the wide range of support that had been developed this year, together with new initiatives which had been put in place in anticipation of growing hardship over the forthcoming winter.

Confirmation had been received of the third tranche of Household Support Fund allocation for the period from 1st October 2022 – 31st March 2023. This had been 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.

For the period 1st April to 30th September 2022, 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 summarised how the previous funding allocation was used, and set out a proposed use of the additional fund between now and the end of March that would ensure 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 the Council for individuals experiencing hardship across the county be NOTED.

(2)                      That the arrangements for deploying the new Household Support Fund allocation for the period from October 2022 to March 2023 be APPROVED.