Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To provide an update on the additional activity described in the 2023/24 Cost of Living action plan and to note proposed future approaches and activity within the Household support grant aid.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1       To agree the proposed plan which was endorsed and recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which noted the review of the 2023/24 cost of living plan and supported the proposed range of activities planned for 2024/25 were considered

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed plan which was endorsed and recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which noted the review of the 2023/24 cost of living plan and supported the proposed range of activities planned for 2024/25 were considered, be agreed.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to provide an update on the additional activity described in the 2023/24 Cost of Living action plan and to note proposed future approaches and activity within the Household support grant aid.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed plan which was endorsed and recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which noted the review of the 2023/24 cost of living plan and supported the proposed range of activities planned for 2024/25 were considered, be agreed.

Reasons

Following Covid and the subsequent Cost of Living crisis Cherwell District Council has provided additional support to low-income households, initially in 2022/23 with additional payments or food vouchers to those in receipt of housing benefit and last winter 2023/24 ran a programme of support and grant schemes to offer support to grass roots community groups and individuals.

Going forward the Wellbeing service wants to continue to work in partnership across the district with statutory and voluntary sector organisations, both strategically and on a hyperlocal basis, to ensure that Cherwell residents can access support through additional targeted interventions and secure help when needed.

The council recognises that the response to the cost-of-living crisis is changing and will need to continue to be flexible and adapt to best meet the changing needs of residents and the proposed activities will seek to continue to address this.

Alternative options

Option 1: To not respond additionally to cost-of-living burdens felt by residents most impacted by economic pressures as there isn’t a base budget for the additional spend.

This has been rejected because of the availability of further allocations of Household support grant aid, which allow the Council to support residents without budgetary impact.

Option 2: To concentrate on fewer activities in 2024/2025

This has been rejected because the spread of grant allows a greater number of issues to be relieved.