Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement updating Members on the status of the City Council’s cost of living actions and the Cost of Living Action Plan in response to the Council resolution of 20^th May 2024 (Minute 10.5).

RESOLVED that:

(1)    the Cost of Living Action Plan is noted and recognised as a live document which will be continuously updated;

(2)    the support of both MPs be sought to ensure that personal benefits funded by the Government are maintained and enhanced to ensure that everyone in Gloucester can provide adequately for themselves and their families, the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and the Leader of the Council with the support of the Community Wellbeing Team, write to the Gloucester MPs seeking their active support to secure additional government funding to enable the council to improve its support to communities across the City;

(3)    the Council Customer Service Advisors take a curiosity-led approach when dealing with public enquiries in order for them to know what funds/grants/benefits they could be eligible;

(4)    the Council website is regularly kept up to date with the latest funding opportunities and grants available for both individuals and communities alike;

(5)    Members of this Council are provided with information on existing grants, new grants and funding, which comes either directly into the City Council or the County Council by communication channels such as member matters email briefings;

(6)    the Overview Scrutiny Committee is provided with annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of each of those measures as shown in Appendix 1 of the report stating the actual fund, the numbers of applications whether successful or unsuccessful, reasons for unsuccessful applications and amount received for successful applications.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement that updated Members on the status of the City Council’s cost of living actions and the Cost of Living Action Plan in response to the Council resolution of 20^th May 2024 (Minute 10.5).

The Leader of the Council drew Members’ attention to the additional recommendations published in the addendum to the agenda (2.1).  The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement advised that these included points raised in the consideration of the report by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (7^th October 2024 Minute 27) which she believed made stronger proposals to take forward.  She detailed each recommendation outlining the benefits of each.

The Leader of the Council took the opportunity to thank the Labour Group for bringing the original motion to Council (20^th May 2024 Agenda Item 11).  He reminded Members of the importance of doing what they can to help residents.  The Leader of the Council further noted the impact on the cost of living from external factors beyond the control of the Council such as BREXIT and the war in Ukraine.  He emphasised the importance of the recommendation to write to the MPs (2.1(1)) so they might bringtheir influence on national contributary issues such as the recent reductions to state benefits.

RESOLVED that:

(1)    the Cost of Living Action Plan is noted and recognised as a live document which will be continuously updated;

(2)    the support of both MPs be sought to ensure that personal benefits funded by the Government are maintained and enhanced to ensure that everyone in Gloucester can provide adequately for themselves and their families, the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and the Leader of the Council with the support of the Community Wellbeing Team, write to the Gloucester MPs seeking their active support to secure additional government funding to enable the council to improve its support to communities across the City;

(3)    the Council Customer Service Advisors take a curiosity-led approach when dealing with public enquiries in order for them to know what funds/grants/benefits they could be eligible;

(4)    the Council website is regularly kept up to date with the latest funding opportunities and grants available for both individuals and communities alike;

(5)    Members of this Council are provided with information on existing grants, new grants and funding, which comes either directly into the City Council or the County Council by communication channels such as member matters email briefings;

(6)    the Overview Scrutiny Committee is provided with annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of each of those measures as shown in Appendix 1 of the report stating the actual fund, the numbers of applications whether successful or unsuccessful, reasons for unsuccessful applications and amount received for successful applications.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement updating Members on the status of the City Council’s cost of living actions and the Cost of Living Action Plan.

27.1    The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Councillor Trimnell. introduced the report and provided an overview of the background. Referring to 3.10 of the report and the findings of the Joseph Roundtree Foundation, she stated that the cost-of-living crisis had had a significant impact on residents from all socio-economic groups in Gloucester, but had particularly affected low-income households.

27.2    Councillor Trimnell outlined pressures including rises in rental accommodation costs, high energy costs, universal credit limitations, the ongoing impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. She further explained that the cost-of-living crisis was also putting pressure on local councils, with many residents struggling to pay their Council Tax bills.

27.3    Councillor Trimnell advised Members that through existing resources, the Council had delivered initiatives such as Warm Spaces and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), and confirmed that it would continue to do everything possible to support residents. She further noted that the report provided a response to the motion approved by Council back in May 2024 and was a living document which would continue to be updated.

27.4    Councillor Pullen referred to the original resolution of the motion agreed by Council back in May 2024 to report on the Cost-of-Living Action Plan within a 3-month timeframe. He noted that he had received assurances at the July Cabinet meeting that this timescale would be met and requested an explanation as to the delay. Councillor Trimnell explained that the report needed some revision prior to publication and impressed that she wanted the document to be the best it could be when it was considered by the Committee.

27.5    Councillor Pullen noted that action plans from other authorities set out what the council proposed to do to help people struggling with the cost of living. He stated that those plans included proposed actions, how these would be achieved, outcomes and targets, and expressed the view that this detail was missing from the plan in its current form. Councillor Trimnell advised that a draft Action Plan was included at Appendix 1 which included information around measures, service areas and planning and delivery. She expressed her view that it was important to use the customer service experience to ensure that residents who were contacting the council with queries were made aware of the support available to them.

27.6    Councillor Pullen referred to 15.6 in the report and the narrative concerning the development of a communication strategy. He expressed his view that targeted outreach was essential as not all residents had access to online facilities. Councillor Trimnell reiterated that it was important that this formed part of the customer service process at the first point of contact, and that it was her hope that Officers were already offering advice to residents who contacted the council for help on support which was available to them.

27.7    The Chair asked whether consideration could be given to providing regular information to Members so that they could pass on key messages to their residents in Councillor newsletters. Councillor Trimnell agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27