Agenda item

This Council calls on the Government to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) before it runs out in March 2024.

Council notes the fund provides a lifeline to tens of thousands ofhouseholds in Leeds struggling to afford energy, food, clothing and other essentials. Council is concerned that across Leeds families are living under the threat of losing this vital lifeline, especially given one in five children in Leeds are living in poverty.

Council further notes many charities and third sector organisations in Leeds depend on HSF to deliver emergency cost of living support to families who are at risk of financial hardship.  

Council is deeply concerned that the Government did not use its Autumn Statement or draft Local Government Finance Settlement to confirm an extension of the fund, and therefore calls for the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families, and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Harland, seconded by Councillor Coupar that this Council calls on the Government to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) before it runs out in March 2024.

Council notes the fund provides a lifeline to tens of thousands ofhouseholds in Leeds struggling to afford energy, food, clothing and other essentials. Council is concerned that across Leeds families are living under the threat of losing this vital lifeline, especially given one in five children in Leeds are living in poverty.

Council further notes many charities and third sector organisations in Leeds depend on HSF to deliver emergency cost of living support to families who are at risk of financial hardship.  

Council is deeply concerned that the Government did not use its Autumn Statement or draft Local Government Finance Settlement to confirm an extension of the fund, and therefore calls for the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families, and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

An amendment was moved by Councillor B Anderson, seconded by Councillor Firth

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“welcomes the £2.5 billion funding provided by the government since 2021 for the Household Support Fund, which has helped vulnerable households in Leeds and across the country with the cost of living.

“The HSF comes in the context of a wider programme of government support announced in the Autumn Statement, with £104 billion spent on cost of living support between 2022 and 2025 – worth around £3,700 per household. Measures include: uprating benefits by 6.7%; increasing the state pension by 8.5%; increasing the Local Housing Allowance by £7 billion over 5 years, benefiting 1.6 million households by around £800 a year.? 

“Council notes that the pandemic and the war in Ukraine were the principal causes of inflation in all economies.

“Council notes that as a result of this government’s efforts to help the most vulnerable, there are 1.7 million fewer households in poverty than in 2010.

“Council calls on the government to continue to provide support to vulnerable households and focus on the long-term decisions required to strengthen our economy.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor B Anderson was declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council calls on the Government to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) before it runs out in March 2024.

Council notes the fund provides a lifeline to tens of thousands ofhouseholds in Leeds struggling to afford energy, food, clothing and other essentials. Council is concerned that across Leeds families are living under the threat of losing this vital lifeline, especially given one in five children in Leeds are living in poverty.

Council further notes many charities and third sector organisations in Leeds depend on HSF to deliver emergency cost of living support to families who are at risk of financial hardship.  

Council is deeply concerned that the Government did not use its Autumn Statement or draft Local Government Finance Settlement to confirm an extension of the fund, and therefore calls for the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families, and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

Prior to discussion on this item Councillor Dobson declared an interest as a manager of an organisation that allocates Household Support Funds to other organisations and would abstain from voting on the matter and prior to her contribution in the debate Councillor Chapman declared an interest as she had previously set up a food bank which was supported by an organisation funded by the Household Support Fund.

On the requisition of Councillor Flint and Councillor Farley the voting on the Motion in the name of Councillor Harland was recorded as follows;

YES – 73

Akhtar, Ali, Almass, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Edwards, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garvani, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Hannan, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, Hinchcliffe, Holroyd-Case, Z Hussain, Iqbal, Jenkins, Jones, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Manaka, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McCluskey, McKenna, Millar, Parnham, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Rontree, Scopes, Shahzad, Sharpe, Taylor, Thomson, Tudor, Venner, Wilson, Wray, Campbell, Chapman, Downes, Golton, Hart-Brooke, Finnigan, Kidger, Newton, Senior, Field, McCormack, Dixon, Pogson-Golden, Blackburn, Carlisle and Stables

NO – 17

Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, L Buckley, N Buckley, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Foster, Harrington, Lamb, Robinson, D Seary, S Seary, Smith and Stephenson.,

ABSTAIN – 1

Dobson