Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Rose Doran, Senior Adviser in the Children, Welfare, Equality and Democracy (CWED) officer team, and invited Esther Barrott, Adviser, to introduce the report.

Esther introduced the report which provided an overview of the LGA’s current work on support for low-income households, led by Rose and the Resources Board.

Rose set out the following points:

• Background information which related to the Resources Board and policy join-up.
• Council finances being impacted by the rising cost of living was being considered.
• Work in relation to addressing the rising cost of living had increased significantly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and continued to increase post-pandemic.
• The need for a positive narrative was emphasised, as well as highlighting the challenges and the need for a properly resourced welfare system to ensure a sustainable approach to having greater resilience within communities.
• The need to better protect communities in the future was emphasised and would be a key theme at the LGA annual conference 2022.
• A workshop had been set up which focused on council’s engagement with service users in relation to anti-poverty.
• At a recent Resources Board meeting, it was suggested that a steering group be set up to discuss the role of councils in addressing the rising cost of living. Input would be required from a representative from each Board.
• The steering group would deliver action learning and bring together key focuses and specific issues.

Board Members commented on the issues that the rising cost of living had brought, including:

• Fuel poverty.
• The need to retrofit properties.
• The need to promote and prioritise closer co-ordination with voluntary and community sectors.
• Access to public transport, employment opportunities and support services in rural and coastal areas.
• The Agricultural sector and food security.
• Planning and use of land.
• Heating oil costs.
• The lack of battery storage technology.
• Increased mortgage and interest rates.
• The need for rural proofing.
• Digital infrastructure.
• The lack of affordable housing.
• The need for planning permission regulations to change to ensure that more residential lets were available.

It was agreed by the Board that Cllr Emily O’Brien represent the Board on a cost-of-living steering group.

Rose noted all of the points raised by Board Members and confirmed that she’d continue to link in with other Boards in relation to the rising cost of living issues, and the Board’s representative, Cllr Emily O’Brien.

Cllr Emily O’Brien thanked the Board for the endorsement.

Decision:

·       Board Members noted the report.

Action:

·       Officers to provide regular update/progress reports to future meetings of the Board.