Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement.

(a)    That the day one continuation of critical crisis and resilience projects in line with the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) criteria project proposals, be approved.

(b)    It was noted that local authorities must allocate CRF funding to provide financial support towards housing needs, to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. This would replace the current Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme ending on the 31 March 2026.

(c)    It was noted that once more information relating to the administration of the new fund was available from Government, a further report would be submitted to People and Health Overview Committee for consideration.

Reason for the decision

To ensure Dorset Council was safe, legal and compliant with the CRF criteria and that there was no loss of critical crisis and resilience support whilst further development work was undertaken within Dorset Council and with our strategic community delivery partners.

CRF Guidance stated that authorities were expected to maintain existing levels of spending on Housing Payments, using the FYE March 2026 allocations for DHPs as a guide. The Housing Payment would closely replicate existing DHP guidelines and would adopt a phased transition over the 3-year funding period.

The Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement presented a report on the national Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which replaced the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) from 1 April 2026.

The Cabinet Member advised that the report set out the details to ensure that there was an expedited approach to maintaining a safe and compliant service from day one.  The report also sought approval for the continuation of essential crisis and resilience projects that meet the CRF criteria, pending further development work and subsequent scrutiny by the People and Health Overview Committee.

 It was proposed by Cllr R Hope and seconded by Cllr C Sutton

Decision

(a)    That the day one continuation of critical crisis and resilience projects in line with the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) criteria project proposals, be approved.

(b)    It was noted that local authorities must allocate CRF funding to provide financial support towards housing needs, to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. This would replace the current Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme ending on the 31 March 2026.

(c)    It was noted that once more information relating to the administration of the new fund was available from Government, a further report would be submitted to People and Health Overview Committee for consideration.

Reason for the decision

To ensure Dorset Council was safe, legal and compliant with the CRF criteria and that there was no loss of critical crisis and resilience support whilst further development work was undertaken within Dorset Council and with our strategic community delivery partners.

CRF Guidance stated that authorities were expected to maintain existing levels of spending on Housing Payments, using the FYE March 2026 allocations for DHPs as a guide. The Housing Payment would closely replicate existing DHP guidelines and would adopt a phased transition over the 3-year funding period.