Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Cost of Living Strategy.

The Leader presented the report of the Director: Communities, Customer & Commercial Services. The report provided an update on the progress made on the Council’s response to the Cost of Living crisis.

Cabinet approved the Cost of Living Strategy in October 2022 and, since then, demand on services had continued to grow. The Strategy had provided a package of additional support to residents and businesses within the Borough, which included help with energy costs by providing low energy LED light bulbs, allocating supermarket vouchers to residents in receipt of pension credits and providing an additional £90,000 of funding to local food banks.

The report outlined future steps that would be taken which included an additional grant of £30,000 to Age UK and £25,000 to local food banks.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report. Several Members discussed residents who had contacted them regarding food vouchers that they had received and the difference that it had made to them. Cabinet Members welcomed, in particular, the support around sustainable energy, which would have not only immediate cost savings for residents, would continue in the future to support the move to zero carbon.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The impact of the cost of living crisis is having on the residents and businesses in the Borough be noted;

b)   The progress made to date to deliver the actions agreed in the Cost of Living Strategy be noted;

c)    The proposals for provision of further help and support be endorsed and the next steps, as set out in Section 4.6 of the report, be agreed.