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 April 2024 to 30 September 2024. 

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Wellbeing and

Housing to finalise the details of the local Household Support

Fund scheme following consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Services and S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure 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 and the Public.  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 06/03/2024 and the period within which the scheme must be delivered (01/04/2024 – 30/09/2024).

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 received the final guidance and confirmation of actual amount of funding allocated on 26/03/2024. The total allocation for Southampton City Council is £2,222,676.23.

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.