Extra help with cost of living crisis

A package of measures to help the most vulnerable across the Horsham district with the ‘cost of living crisis’ have been unveiled.

The extra financial support from Horsham District Council will be funded primarily by this year’s extra council tax revenue.

If approved by councillors this month, the proposed measures include:

• £90,000 for housing payments support helping those on benefits

•A35,000hardshipfundto help people with debt

• A £15,000 grant to Horsham Matters so they can expand their fuel crisis support

• £60,000 funding for two additional full-time posts at Citizens Advise to meet increased demand

• £80,000 a mentoring scheme for young people in partnership with West Sussex County Council

• £15,000 increase in young people intervention training courses to better understand teenage behaviour.

Jonathan Chowen, HDC’s Conservative leader, said: “We are doing everything within the council’s power to help those who need financial help most in our district. We are providing additional support for young people. We are also providing more support to our partners so that they can carry on with their successful community projects, which also helps those in most need."

In response, Martin Boffey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Horsham District Council, said: “In Horsham the Conservatives blocked our proposal for extra Council Tax relief for the vulnerable, and only last month they refused our proposal to tackle fuel poverty. Today's announcement of a complete U-turn is very welcome, if a little late.”