Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources has considered a report setting out the context, considerations and rationale for the proposed local approach to the allocation of the Household Support Fund Phase 7 (HSF7).

Since December 2020, the DWP have provided local authorities with grants to support vulnerable households with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis. The HSF succeeded the Covid Winter Package (CWP) and the Local Support Grant (LSG). For the period December 2020 to March 2025, Stockport received £17.331m across ten grant schemes .

On 30 October 2024, the UK Government announced that the HSF would be extended from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Stockport’s allocation is £3,812,451.89.

Although HSF7 is informally considered an extension to the previous six HSF schemes, it is a new grant subject to its own grant conditions. Any underspend from HSF6 cannot be carried forward. Equally, any underspend from HSF7 cannot be carried into 26/27.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources has then given approval to the to the delivery plan for HSF7 as detailed in Section 6 of the report.

None.