Being unable to afford food is the main reason Lancashire residents have received help from the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) since it was introduced more than two years ago.

County district authorities have spent more on ensuring people have enough to eat than on any of the other essential needs with which they can help under the initiative, a County Hall cabinet meeting heard.

The county council itself has also used some of the cash it distributes as part of the initiative to supply food vouchers to families to help with the school holday meal costs.

Demand has been so great in some corners of the county that several districts had run out of funding.

The fund was launched in October 2021 – as the costs crisis began to bite – and has been extended five times since. The government announced last month the scheme would continue for at least six months. County Hall has been allocated £9.7m.

While the county council retains some of the money for school holiday vouchers and other Lancashire-wide support schemes, much of it is distributed to district authorities.

County Cllr Michael Green, health cabinet member, said while food support accounted for most of the spending in each district, there was less consistency in other aspects of the help required in each area.

He stressed the importance of councils being able to meet “local demand” where that differs across Lancashire. Some will funnel their allocations through community organisations and by supporting food banks.

HSF cash can also assist with energy and clothing bills, the purchase and repair of essential household items and, in some circumstances, housing costs. Debt and employment advice may also be offered.

Labour deputy leader County Cllr Lorraine Beavers said the government’s six-month HSF extension was “too short” and made it difficult for district councils to plan appropriately.

County Cllr Green said the authority had been working with districts in advance of the fresh allocation of cash coming through.

It will now be up to deputy county council leader Alan Vincent and the authority’s director of public health to decide how the latest round of HSF cash will be utilised in Lancashire – including how much will be issued to district councils.

A report presented to cabinet members warned that the short timeframe since the budget announcement of the HSF extension meant funding had not been “fully available to households across the whole county from April 1”. Some district councils will also need to recruit temporary staff to administer distribution of the funds.