RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £630,000 of the Household Support fund to free school meal vouchers for the period October 2022 to March 2023 (including Easter holidays) as set out in para 2.6.

B. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 of the Household Support fund to be available for application based referrals from residents as set out in para 2.7

C. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £454,000 of the Household Support fund and £200,000 of the council’s Cost of Living fund to direct grants with individual payments of £60 to residents in receipt of Council Tax Support by Post Office voucher as set out in para 2.8.

D. That Cabinet agree the proposal to allocate £400,000 to initiatives that reduce heating costs as set out in para 2.11.

E. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 to support arrangements in the voluntary and community sector as set out in para 2.16.

F. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £200,000 to fund two Debt Advisors for two years for Citizens Advice as set out in 2.15 and 2.17.

G. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 to Sustainable Merton to support the Community Fridge as set out in 2.18 and 2.19.

H. That Cabinet agree the proposal to keep back £1 million to enable a further review in January 2023 and to implement further initiatives as set out in 2.20

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report which set out the proposed approach to distribution of the first half of the Cost of Living Support Fund and the latest tranch of support fund monies from the Government.

The Cabinet Member gave an overview of the distribution including direct grants of £60 cash payments to residents receiving Council Tax support, Free School Meals vouchers during school holidays including the 2023 Easter Holidays and the Sustainable Merton Fridge network and food poverty action plan. The Council was also proposing the addition of two additional debt advisors for the Citizens Advice Bureau for a period of two years.

The effectiveness of these measures would be reviewed in January 2023.

Cabinet Members spoke to the report, thanking officers and members for the report.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £630,000 of the Household Support fund to free school meal vouchers for the period October 2022 to March 2023 (including Easter holidays) as set out in para 2.6.

B. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 of the Household Support fund to be available for application based referrals from residents as set out in para 2.7

C. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £454,000 of the Household Support fund and £200,000 of the council’s Cost of Living fund to direct grants with individual payments of £60 to residents in receipt of Council Tax Support by Post Office voucher as set out in para 2.8.

D. That Cabinet agree the proposal to allocate £400,000 to initiatives that reduce heating costs as set out in para 2.11.

E. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 to support arrangements in the voluntary and community sector as set out in para 2.16.

F. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £200,000 to fund two Debt Advisors for two years for Citizens Advice as set out in 2.15 and 2.17.

G. That Cabinet agree the proposal to commit £100,000 to Sustainable Merton to support the Community Fridge as set out in 2.18 and 2.19.

H. That Cabinet agree the proposal to keep back £1 million to enable a further review in January 2023 and to implement further initiatives as set out in 2.20