Issue - meetings

       To receive a report from the Chief Executive.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the content of the report;

2.    Delegates the payment criteria of the grant to the Director, Finance and Procurement (S151 Officer), and the Director, Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure, and Libraries.

Reason for Decision:

To inform Members of the Household Support Fund extension allocation Wiltshire Council has been awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling Cabinet member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure and Libraries presented a report providing an overview of the Household Support Fund 2024 following its extension for a further six months (1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025). Wiltshire Council have been allocated £2,728,656.4 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Cllr Blair-Pilling explained that the award would support households, who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs to help them with significantly with rising living costs.

Cabinet members welcomed the additional funding and referred to the numerous community benefits this would provide, although it raised questions about the future structure and provision of support for households experiencing hardship.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group paid tribute to Cllr Blair-Pilling for the work being undertaken in this area and asked how residents would be made aware of the availability of additional funds.  Cllr Blair-Pilling reported that information is available through third sector partners, including Citizen’s Advice, Council communications, the Council’s website and increasingly through local members.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the content of the report;

2.    Delegates the payment criteria of the grant to the Director, Finance and Procurement (S151 Officer), and the Director, Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure, and Libraries.

Reason for Decision:

To inform Members of the Household Support Fund extension allocation Wiltshire Council has been awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions.