Agenda item

This report provides an update on the Council’s Cost of Living response programme and work underway to develop a strategy for 2024/25, given the government’s late decision to extend the Household Support Fund.

Matthew Sales (Assistant Director, Programmes, Assurance and Analytics) and Bathsheba Mall (Programme Lead) introduced the report which provided an update on the Council’s Cost of Living response programme and work underway to develop a strategy for 2024/25, given the government’s late decision to extend the Household Support Fund.

Councillor Helen Rowbottom asked what the most impactful intervention had been. Matthew Sales said it was hard to pick one scheme but highlighted the Crisis Prevention Fund, a cash first approach and one of the first times the Council had done that. He noted that officers were tracking a range of different indicators and had responded to that data – for example increasing housing support in response to rent rises. He also highlighted the Winter Support Fund, £340,000 of grants to third sector organisations that helped over 4,200 households.

Councillor Rowbottom noted there were now three Family Hubs in the borough but they couldn’t keep pace with the number of referrals. She asked how the Council was monitoring that and how they could be supported to meet the demand. Matthew Sales said they needed to make connections with the hubs to see how to work better on referrals as a council and with partners.

The Chair noted that one of the positive aspects of this had been the Cost of Living Alliance and the relationships built with third sector partners.

Councillor Rebecca Harvey (Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety) addressed the meeting and discussed the new winter booklet targeted at schools, GPs, and libraries with information about income maximisation, housing, debt, and more. She noted the Council was investing a lot into the advice service and the third sector. She also echoed the Chair’s comments about stronger partnerships and the importance of the Alliance steering group who had worked together on delivering the signposting tool.

Councillor Natalia Perez asked who was coordinating the signposting tool and referrals. Bathsheba Mall said she was leading the work on the signposting tool internally, supported by a project team from different service areas.

Councillor Perez asked about the likelihood of the Household Support Fund being extended further and the impact of its withdrawal. Matthew Sales said it had been extended until 30 September but there was no clarity beyond that. It was an important source of funding which the Council added to from its own funds. Without it there would be significant pressure on the Council to either end the support or find money from elsewhere to continue it. He said it was difficult to plan without permanent funding in place.

Councillor Vaughan asked for more information on building economic resilience and supporting the local economy. Matthew Sales said he would come back on those questions.

ACTION: Matthew Sales

Councillor Daly thanked officers for their work in this area. She asked if officers had found a way of capturing what had been achieved so the lessons could be applied in other areas. Matthew Sales said the team was keen to evaluate what had been done and how to develop it further. They were doing an analysis and evaluation of past data and performance and they would be looking at where to apply that more widely in the Council.

Councillor Harvey said she was keen to take the learning and build it into the Financial Inclusion Strategy. She added that there was a lot of work still to be done, but they could build on real successes – like the work done with the H&F Foodbank to save 40% of the cost by going straight to delivery.

The Chair thanked officers and members for their contributions. She said there was a lot of learning to build into how the Council operates.

RESOLVED

1. The Policy and Oversight Board noted the report and provided comments and feedback on H&F’s response to the Cost of Living crisis.