The Head of Customer Focus to report.

The Committee received an update from the Head of Customer Focus in relation to the Household Support Fund 6.

The Head of Customer Focus presented the following:

·         Central Government had announced a new household support fund for the period of October 2024 to March 2025. 

·         From the Devon County Council’s allocation of just over £5 million, North Devon Council was to receive just under £350,000.

·         This would be the sixth fund that we had administered since 2021.

·         North Devon Council were working with Devon County Council to find the best way of administering the funds and as previously this would comprise of a mixture of applications and direct awards.

·         Along with other Devon authorities North Devon Council were looking to make direct awards to pensionable age households in receipt of council tax reduction (a means tested reduction) but who do not receive pension credit (which would entitle them to the winter fuel payment).

·         The tabled options outlined how the funds could be distributed:

Ø  Option one: to award either £100, £150, £175 or £200 to all pensionable age households on a low income (in receipt of council tax reduction which is a means tested reduction) but who were not in receipt of pension credit.

Ø  There were 988 households identified as being on a low income (but not in receipt of pension credit) and so the totals for the awards listed above would equal:

Ø  £100 = £98,000

Ø  £150 = £148,000

Ø  £175 = £172,000

Ø  £200 = £197,000

Ø  Option two: split the pensionable age households who were on a low income (receiving council tax reduction) but who were not in receipt of pension credit by income:

Ø  Households which were either below the pension credit threshold but not yet applied/had an application approved or were within £50 of the threshold per week, 532 x £200 = £106,400.

Ø  Households above £50 of the threshold per week, 456 x £100 = £45,600

Ø  Combined total of this option, £152,000

Ø  This would leave between £150,000 and £250,000 for applications, this was most preferred based on previous rounds.

·         A steer on how the funds were administered was being sought from members today or if members were happy to allow officers to make that decision.

In response to questions the Head of Customer Focus, gave the following responses:

·         Working age claimants would still be able to apply to the fund via the usual referral routes.  Previous funds had focussed on working age claimants.  This round was being focussed on pension age claimants.

·         It wouldn’t be possible to cover both working age and pension age claimants as it would leave insufficient funds for the application part of the scheme.

·         Ideally, the fund needed to open to applications shortly as we were heading into the colder months now.

RESOLVED that officers be delegated to make the decision on how to administer funding with deferment to the Lead Member for Resources and Commercialisation and future reports on how the fund was administered to return to Committee.