Sefton Council’s website proudly proclaims that:
“Sefton Council has re-opened the Household Support Fund today (Monday 8th April), after the Chancellor announced it would be extended for a further six months in the Spring Budget.”
https://www.sefton.gov.uk/mysefton-news/latest-news/sefton-residents-ca…
We are told that:
“By February when it was temporarily closed due to funds being exhausted, the Council had over £1.7 million through the Open Access Household Support Fund and had received and dealt with almost 11,250 applications since the scheme opened in April 2023.”
What the Councillors fail to acknowledge is that the current fund amounts to £2,435,111 for the period 1st April to 30th September 2024.
News of this financial assistance has not been reported to Sefton’s Council but appeared on 1th April 2024 as a report to the Council Leader seeking approval to accept this grant. The money would be spent on the following items:
Free School Meals – to fund 7 weeks holiday @ £15 per week per child for May half term and 6 weeks summer holidays. £1,155,000
Open Application Scheme – mandated by DWP and administered by ELAS for those that don’t meet ELAS criteria but require help from the LA £900,000
Foodbank – contribution to foodbanks £30,000
Affordable Warmth Team – continue to support residents with boiler replacement, draught proofing etc… £40,000
Energy Project Plus – provide meter top up vouchers to be distributed by Energy Project Plus £30,000
Leaving Care Team– support targeted at children leaving care and transitioning into adulthood. ASDA vouchers to be distributed via Family Well Being Centres £50,000
CVS Warm / Welcome Spaces – continuation of the warm spaces model throughout the year £75,000
School Uniform Project – to fund school uniform purchase for those that are in need £10,000
ASDA Vouchers – voucher purchase for distribution by Family Hubs £20,000
Admin & Management – 5% to cover additional staffing costs in Revs & Bens in providing the Open Access Application Scheme as well as portion of staff time (Communities & Finance) in administering HSF £125,111
Total £2,435,111
The report to the Council Leader notes that:
“It is mandatory that in any publicity material for the scheme, including via online channels and media releases, Authorities make clear that this funding is being provided by the UK Government. This requirement extends to other public bodies (for example, District Councils) delivering the scheme on behalf of the Authority.”
How strange therefore that this fact is totally ignored on election leaflets which are being circulated by Labour’s candidate in Blundellsands Ward. She proudly lists the variety of projects which she claims represent the ways that Labour-led Sefton Council has supported some of our most vulnerable residents in the past year.
What she does not tell the electorate that this work has been generously funded by the Conservative Government. The Councils has even claimed 5% of the grant to pay for staffing in the revenues and benefits department to administer the scheme.
As with so many claims from Sefton’s Labour Council, they ignore the fact that they are being supported with substantial grants from the Government, yet claim they are distributing the funds as if it came from their own pocket.
Rather than acknowledge they are working in partnership with the Government, our Labour councillors are misleading the electorate by claiming the credit for the Household Support Fund and even slicing £125,000 to help distribute the money to the vulnerable groups.
