Decision details

To consider the report of Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement seeking approval to accept and authorise expenditure in relation to the
next phase of Household Support Fund funding for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 inclusive.

(i)  To approve in principle for Southampton City Council to participate in the delivery of the next phase of Household Support Fund from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Wellbeing & Housing to finalise the details of the local Household Support Fund scheme following consultation with the Executive Director - Finance, Commercialisation and S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Customer Engagement and to administer funding in accordance with that scheme.

1.  This pledge of funding is to be provided to County Councils and Unitary Authorities and forms part of the Government’s wider package of support for those most in need, to help with the cost of living. This funding can be used to support some of our most vulnerable households.

2.  Local Authorities received the final guidance and confirmation of actual amount of funding allocated for the period of 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024, on the 20th February 2023.  Funding has been confirmed as £4,445,352 for a 12 month period.

The Council may consider not accepting this funding. This is not recommended as the fund is designed to assist local authorities to help residents experiencing financial hardship linked to the global inflationary challenges and the significantly rising cost of living and to be complementary to the Government’s wider package of Cost of Living support.