Decision details

Having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules:

(i)  To approve in principle for Southampton City Council to participate in the delivery of the next phase of Household Support Fund from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Community  Wellbeing to finalise the details of the local Household Support Fund scheme following consultation with the Executive Director Enabling Services and S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Safer City and to administer funding in accordance with that scheme.

1.    This report is submitted for consideration as a General Exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the City Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Panel  The matter requires a decision under this regulation due to its urgency (that it is impracticable to defer the decision until 28 clear days’ notice has been given on the Forward Plan). This is due to the timescales given between the Government announcement of funding being made available on 2 September 2024 and the period within which the scheme must be delivered between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025. 

2  This pledge of funding for Household Support Fund 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. 

3.    Local Authorities are yet to receive the final guidance and confirmation of actual amount of funding allocated. However, as a guide, the total allocation for Southampton City Council for the last phase of Household Support Fund (1 April to 30 September 2024) was £2,222,676.23. If the amount allocated is below £2m Council approval will not be required but a delegation to accept future funding may be considered prudent to save further last minute reports to Cabinet or Council for approval.

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 and to be complementary to the Government’s wider package of ‘Help for Households’ - cost of living support.