Decision details

To accept the funding allocation from Lincolnshire County Council as part of the Department for Work and Pension's Household Support Fund 1 April 2024 - 30 September 2024 to deliver the scheme at a local level

• To accept the funding allocation from Lincolnshire County Council as part of the Department for Work and Pension’s Household Support Fund 1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024 to deliver the scheme at a local level.This is an indicative total of £222,956 for South Holland.
• To give delegated authority to the Assistant Director (Wellbeing & Community Leadership) in consultation relevant Portfolio Holders to implement the policy in respect of administration and local distribution of the funding.
• To utilise local allocation to meet local need and support vulnerable households in-line with the Household Support Fund grant conditions:
  • 50% allocated via grant donation to Lincolnshire Community Foundation to administer public facing application-based scheme to provide crisis support to vulnerable households in most need with the cost of essentials
  • 40% allocated via grant donation to local food banks, charities, NHS Neighbourhood Teams to support clients, patients and residents
  • 5% allocated to South & East Lincolnshire’s Home Energy Advice & Retrofit Team (HEART) to support vulnerable households with energy vouchers
  • 5% to support the administrative and staff costs

• Accepting access to this local allocation of Government funding will ensure the Council can support residents in the most need with household essentials.

• Previous HSF rounds have been successfully delivered by this model. Relationships with delivery partners and mechanisms are now well established with learning taken from previous funding rounds.

• Working with third sector organisations with reputable record of delivering grants and emergency support to residents in need ensures as vulnerable households as possible are identified, engaged and supported.

·       Do nothing and decline the grant. The grant is paid in arrears and there is no requirement to draw down the funding. To not utilise the funding would be detrimental to households at a time when many continue to experience financial pressures and is not considered an option.

·       To administer the application-based scheme in-house. Due to limited capacity and timescales this is not recommended. S&ELCP have an established relationship with Lincolnshire Community Foundation to deliver local grants. They are a reputable Lincolnshire based grant-maker with the network and experience to efficiently deliver public-facing schemes.