A £900,000 pot of money for hard-pushed households has been hailed as a help to those in need – but described by an opposition leader as a “frighteningly small sum”.

The cash will go to food and fuel vouchers and support to food banks to support people with the cost of living crisis and rising inflation.

Darlington Borough Council has agreed measures for the six-month extension of the Government’s household support fund.

The town has received £913,853 from the fund’s latest round, to be used before the end of March next year.

The council proposed a programme including food vouchers to families with children on free school meals, fuel vouchers through the Bread and Butter Thing and support for the elderly, vulnerable groups, food bank and care leavers.

Councillor Jon Clarke, cabinet member for children and young people, told a cabinet meeting the latest tranche of funding had opened up the ways in which the money could be used.

He said: “We’ve put together what we think is a fair way and the right way of administering this money.”

Cllr Stephen Harker, Labour group leader, said: “Clearly £900,000 is welcome.”

But he said once broken down for families “it’s actually a frighteningly small sum of money” and “pales into insignificance” next to money which had been taken away from people and aborted tax cuts for high earners.

He said: “The amount of money they’ve given to the people desperately in need of help at this point doesn’t even match the amount of money that was going to be given away to the most privileged people in this country.

“I think that’s what sticks in the craw, how out of tune some of the decisions that have been made outside this chamber that sadly you’re having to deal with are.

“I find it really frustrating that people are being hoodwinked into thinking that everybody is getting the same level of help.”

Cllr Clarke replied: “I’m going to stay out of the national politics side of things.

“With the money that we’ve been given, I think we’ve done the best we can.

“I think what it has done this time is given us the ability to get to the people that we need to get to. In previous tranches it’s been pretty rigid where we put the money.

“Working with partners who are best placed to help people financially in whatever way they can, I think it’s the right way to do it and we will reach more people that we have done probably before.”

Cllr Matthew Snedker said there was a 40 per cent growth in people using food banks to get through the week amid eroding income. “We’re not seeing a 40 per cent increase in the support for those most desperate families," he said.

“Officers I know will be working incredibly hard to spend this money wisely and efficiently. I know you’ve got the passion to get this done right.

“But we’re bailing out the ship with a teaspoon at the moment, and we need pails and pumps. That’s the kicker for me, that people in this town are struggling en masse.”

Cllr Lorraine Tostevin, cabinet member for adults, said: “We have got a lot of people in Darlington who will benefit greatly from this allocation which we are putting together to put out to the people who need help.

“Yes it would be nice if it was more but there isn’t more.”

The council’s plans need to be submitted to the Government by October 28.