Agenda item

The item was introduced by Charles Barlow (Delivery Lead, Communities and Partnerships Service), who reminded members that in October 2022 Cabinet had approved a fund of up to £1million from the Revenue Investment Fund to help support cost of living initiatives. As of 15 August 2023, £730,000 had either been spent or committed to being spent. Sitting alongside the Revenue Investment Fund, an additional £1million from the Household Support Fund grant had been distributed through the Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme. This provided direct support to vulnerable households around energy and water bills, food, and other related essentials. It was felt cost of living support needed to be put in place longer term as increasing costs were affecting individuals – either through increased mortgage costs, or rate increases caused by landlords’ mortgage rates going up – and businesses, through higher operating costs. Charles Barlow said the report provided a summary of the investments, and greater detail could be provided to members if they wished.

Councillor Sarah Boad said she was pleased to see libraries would continue to operate as warm hubs. She said community pantries would help provide support for residents’ longer-term issues arising from the cost of living crisis. Charles Barlow clarified that funding for the community pantries in the financial year 2023/24 has come from the Revenue Investment Fund, but that further investment for 2024/25 and beyond would need to be secured through the budget setting process, and that a budget pressure had been raised. A report relating to this would be coming to Cabinet soon. He added that libraries were able to do more to support vulnerable people when a volunteer co-ordinator was involved.

Responding to a question from Councillor Tim Sinclair, Charles Barlow said there was a small budget for communications in relation to cost of living initiatives. The Council worked with colleagues from the District and Borough Councils, as well as the voluntary sector. Information was also shared online. It was accepted there had been some duplications in service across the different councils, although attempts had been made to avoid this in future. Charles Barlow said that there had been some added value for money in doing this however.

Responding to a question from Councillor Pete Gilbert, Charles Barlow said grant applications for businesses had come through several routes. Applications from social enterprises had come through the various voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector grant streams, and applications from other types of business had come through grant streams administered by, among other agencies, the County Council’s Economy and Skills Service. He observed that grant applications from businesses had increased over the last 12 months. Councillor Pete Gilbert said a number of businesses were struggling with recruitment, and there appeared to have been an erosion in the relationship between businesses and school leavers. Charles Barlow said it was hoped this could be improved through the conversations taking place as part of the Community Powered Warwickshire initiative.

Members noted the contents of the report and endorsed the continuing approach to addressing cost-of-living pressures.