Decision

1. To agree that the recommended measures set out in the report to support residents through the cost of living crisis be implemented.

2. To agree the additional funding required to undertake the measures.

3. To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Place to enter into any contracts that are required in order to deliver the measures.

4. To agree that a contract should be entered into with the Post Officeas the primary means of distributing funds to residents.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Interim Director for Growth and Economic Development (E. Kershaw)

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, introduced the report setting out some initial mitigation measures to support local residents through the cost of living crisis.

He highlighted that the cost of living crisis is a key priority for the Mayor and so this package of measure had been developed urgently following the appointment of the new Administration. The proposals resulted in £1.75 million of new expenditure which, along with the Household Support Grant, brought total funding to over £2.6 million.

Cabinet discussed the report and heard submissions from Councillors. They noted a number of points including:

·       Many local residents were really struggling with inflation often being higher for staple needs than the headlines suggested.

·       There were a number of different schemes targeted at different types/groups of residents.

·       It was important to make sure that all funding provided by the government was spent in full.

·       That some funding still needed to be allocated including for pensioners and single member households.

·       The needs of residents with disabilities were being considered both in terms of funding and also in how they access funds.

The Mayor welcomed the report, thanked officers and Lead Members for their hard work in putting the report together in such a short space of time and he agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1. To agree that the recommended measures set out in the report to support residents through the cost of living crisis be implemented.

2. To agree the additional funding required to undertake the measures.

3. To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Place to enter into any contracts that are required in order to deliver the measures.

4. To agree that a contract should be entered into with the Post Office as the primary means of distributing funds to residents.