Agenda item

A report will be presented which provides an update on the work being undertaken as part of the Council’s Cost of Living Programme.

Contacts:

Lucy Wearmouth – Head of Improving Population Health

Stephen Bonnell – Head of Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning

Councillor Paul Davies, the Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder, introduced a presentation which provided an update on the work being undertaken as part of the Council’s Cost of Living Programme. He drew Member’s attention to a report recently published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in respect of destitution in the UK and its impacts, which provided some context for the work being undertaken in Kirklees.

The presentation, by Lucy Wearmouth, Head of Improving Population Health and Stephen Bonnell, Head of Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning, highlighted the following points:

·       The three priorities within the programme:

(i)    Emergency Response: focussing on those people already in crisis.

(ii)   Resilience: focussed on building places where people look after each other.

(iii)Prevention: acting now to address the medium and long-term challenges and prevent future economic crisis.

·       Programme Delivery and Governance, which included a Programme Board which brought together those Council services aligned to each of the priorities on a monthly basis and which reported to the relevant Portfolio Holder and Strategic Director and then fed through to Cabinet, Council and Executive Team.

·       The Challenges; including the complexity of addressing the issue, the impact of persistent poverty, reaching those in need, and the pressure on resources and finance.

·       The Successes; including the establishment of ten sustainable ‘The Bread and Butter Thing’ hubs, the use of ward budgets to support cost-of living initiatives; and the management of £14.8 million of funding through the Household Support Fund.

·       A case study illustrating the impact for the community and benefits for those involved as volunteers.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·       Existing hubs had been utilised as ‘warm spaces’ and although, in practice, it had appeared that people would rather have assistance to allow them to stay at home, this use had contributed to creating networks within areas which had been beneficial in building connections and knowledge of what was available. It was acknowledged that such provision worked best when it also had a purpose such as access to activities or support.

·       In response to a question about whether more could be offered in the area of benefits advice/advocacy it was explained that there was a wish to develop more support and signposting, using existing facilities where possible. The Council had a small Advocacy Team and also had a contract with Kirklees Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Law Centre. The ways in which advice could be delivered in the future was under consideration and the views of Members would be welcomed.

·       The Council response to the impact of the increased cost of living was commended, as well as the support provided by numerous community groups. It was noted that additional benefits also resulted from some initiatives, such as the saving of food from landfill, that contributed positively to other Council priorities.

·       Further extension of ‘The Bread and Butter Thing’ would be welcomed. In addition to its core purpose, this model was also valuable in terms of building connections and friendships between those volunteering, and it was suggested that it might also offer opportunities to provide financial advice and support.

·       Prevention was a key aspect to this work; breaking the cycle of poverty, developing resilience in communities and developing community wealth building. This approach was being actively pursued alongside the Combined Authority and the third sector.

·       98 grants, from the Household Support Fund, had been provided to local community groups via One Community; there was a broad spread across North and South Kirklees. It was recognised that some smaller groups might find it difficult to make a bid, but One Community took a relatively ‘light touch’ approach.

·       Delivery of the initial funding from the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Fund had been analysed and the Kirklees model; the way it had been allocated and used, had been found to be strong.

·       There were concerns about smaller groups understanding that they were able to access funding and how to apply. In some cases, they may not be specifically labelling what they did but were nevertheless achieving appropriate goals.

·       There was a need to give consideration to widening the provision of information and signposting, on the help and support available, beyond the main hubs.

Resolved –

That the comments of the Committee be taken on board in future work on the Council’s Cost of Living Programme.