Agenda item

This report concerns the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which has been made available to local authorities in England to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience. This funding covers the period of 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 inclusive and includes specified funding for housing support.

Resolved:   That the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion

i.      Approve the Council’s Crises and Resilience Fund Scheme. 

ii.     Delegate to the Head of Customer Finance, Risk and Insurance in consultation with the councils Section 151 the power to award or amend any financial support changes and awards in line with the Government’s three outcomes and four strands, as set out in the scheme and Government guidance.    

Reason:      The scheme helps to alleviate the ongoing cost of living pressures for financially vulnerable residents.

The Revenues and Benefits Manager, assisted by the Welfare Benefits Manager, presented the item on the Crises and Resilience Fund provided by the National Government to York. He explained that this funding had been made available to local authorities across England, both to support low income households encountering financial shock and to support activities that build individual and community resilience. He noted that the funding covered the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 inclusive. He stated that the fund included a housing element and was not intended to replace existing local welfare assistance schemes.

He acknowledged that in comparison with the preceding Household Support Fund Scheme, in real terms there was a million-pound reduction in the funding provided across the next three years, but that this funding would now be guaranteed for that period and annual renewal would not need to be sought, making forward planning easier.

He noted that the scheme was not open to those with no recourse to public funds, but otherwise it was open to everyone who needed support, whether they happened to be receiving benefits. He explained that the scheme provided funding to be delivered by the authority or external providers to improve financial resilience across the area. Additionally it provided community coordination to drive investment in activities connecting and enhancing the local support landscape.

The Executive Member for Finance and Major Projects thanked all officers who had worked on this scheme. Addressing points raised in public participation, she agreed that the totality of funding for this scheme was less than that for the previous scheme. She advised that both she and the Council Leader had extensively lobbied government ministers about the need for funding, focus and support for York.

The Executive Member also noted the point raised in public participation regarding a “joined up approach” with community partners. She agreed that this was a core and essential part of the work here and she was working closely with the Financial Inclusion steering group to achieve better outcomes.

She highlighted the council’s team working to assist people experiencing difficulties, and signposting them to partner organisations who can assist in the longer term; responding to what people need now, then looking at what help they might need to get out of the situation they are experiencing.

Noting Cllr Waller’s query about reports being made public the Executive Member explained that these reports would be presented to the Executive Member Decision Session, which is a public meeting, and therefore they would be publicly available.

She also highlighted that in the past few years, the council had used data from the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to proactively approach qualifying people who may otherwise be reluctant to come forward and ask for council assistance. This had been particularly successful.

The Executive Member for Children and Education commented that he had been working with Councillor Lomas on this scheme, thanking her and officers for their work. He acknowledged the cost of living crisis alluded to in public participation, and highlighted schemes the council was running to mitigate this.

He agreed that LIFT had generated huge amounts of income for the individuals identified and encouraged the public to reach out to their ward councillors, or at West Offices.

He noted that because this scheme had guaranteed three-year funding, this allowed the council to plan further ahead which would make a big difference.

Resolved:   That the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion

i.      Approve the Council’s Crises and Resilience Fund Scheme. 

ii.     Delegate to the Head of Customer Finance, Risk and Insurance in consultation with the councils Section 151 the power to award or amend any financial support changes and awards in line with the Government’s three outcomes and four strands, as set out in the scheme and Government guidance.    

Reason:      The scheme helps to alleviate the ongoing cost of living pressures for financially vulnerable residents.