To review the funding received and allocated from the Government to support the cost of living crisis and if this resulted in meeting the intended objectives.

(Note:  Malcolm Coe (Director of Finance), Tara Harris (Divisional Director Community and Customer Services), Councillor Chris Lewis (Cabinet Member for Place Services and Economic Growth and Deputy Leader of the Council) and Councillor Tranter (Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities) will be present for this item.)

The Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities, Councillor Tranter, provided an update on the grants to help residents with the cost of living crisis.  In addition to the information set out in the submitted report an update was given as follows.

·                     Energy Bill support scheme – This was a government designed scheme with defined criteria that closed on 31 May 2023, to support those that did not received the £400 energy support payment, as they do not pay their fuel costs directly to the energy supplier e.g. those in HMO accommodation, caravan parks or care homes.

·                     Household Support Fund (HSF) - We were currently delivering scheme 4 for this year, which will provide £2.1m of assistance to residents.  The same amount was also distributed in 2022/23.  Guidance was issued by DWP for the design of the schemes, which had been reviewed and local criteria established and signed off by government. For HSF 3 which covered Oct – Mar 2022/23 theses allocations were:

o        Food vouchers for children in receipt of free school meals - £196,000

o        Food banks - £100,000

o        Supermarket vouchers - £20,000

o        Warm spaces - £73,500

o        Pension credit households £215,000

o        Essentials linked to energy - £97,000

o        Low income households £406,000

As these schemes were government driven, there were strict guidance criteria and returns that were submitted, audited and signed off by the Section 151 Officer for the Council.

In addition to the above, increased funds were allocated to existing support schemes operated by Torbay Council for 2023/24.

·         An additional £200K to support the discretionary housing payments.

·         and an increase of £200K to Welfare support funds to assist with winter pressures later this year.

It was noted that Schemes had been codesigned with other organisations to meet the needs of the community that have direct involvement with residents. This has resulted in a new funding package for 2023/24 with a change in emphasis to meet wider food poverty and need supported though a social supermarket model, financial advice services and support for those that are not in support of benefits.

The Board asked the following questions:

·                     What amount of this funding was used for additional staffing costs to distribute the funding and was there a maximum amount that could be used for administrative purposes.

·                     The report mentions agency staff, was there a reason that the Council used agency staff rather than having a bank of staff to use.

·                     What lessons have been learned from delivering these schemes that can be used for future grants.

·                     Have the grants reached the demographic that it was intended to.

·                     There was a limit of funding available to help people were there other ways in which we could help people who were struggling. e.g. informal ways through our communities.

·                     There was an increase in demand for help and signposting how could the Council assist with this.

·                     A consultation was launched earlier in the year for a revised Council Tax Support Scheme which would help provide longer term support when was that due to come through for decision – Action: the Democratic Services Team Leader to find out the timescale for this.

·                     One of the areas of need was local affordable housing but there were barriers through the local planning system with local residents only being given seven calendar days to apply for a property, how could our housing policies be reviewed to make this fairer.

·                     Were there other mechanisms for disseminating information e.g. community partnerships.

Members noted that one of the key numbers for people to go to for help and support was the Torbay Community Helpline 01803 446022 which was a front door service to help people in crisis.

Members paid tribute and thanks to the Council’s staff, particularly those in the Revenue and Benefits Team, who had been tasked with policing and delivering this funding as well as the community groups and organisations who helped.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.         that Overview and Scrutiny Members consider all opportunities to help provide resilience and support to our residents, including wider economic and social benefits, in all their work;

2.         that a briefing note be circulated to all Members on what support is currently available so that they can share it with their communities;

3.         that, should Household Support Fund 5 be announced an all Member briefing be held; and

4.         that the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator write to the Divisional Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency to request him to revisit the Section 106 criteria for entitlement to affordable housing and the bidding time extended to local residents for preferential opportunity.