Purpose

An update on how the Council is supporting
residents and businesses through the Cost of Living
Crisis.

Content

RESOLVED:
 
The Committee resolved:
 
a)  
To note the continued response of the Council to help residents and
businesses through the ongoing cost of living crisis, including
support over winter 2023/24;
 
b)  
To note the proposed allocations of £4.8m, of which
£2.2m is funded from the Council’s Emergency Funding
Reserve, to fund the initiatives summarised in Appendix
1;
 
c)  
To note the spend to date and year end projections for Tranche 4 of
the Household Support Fund, as outlined at paragraphs 46 to 52; and
agree to fund the additional cost of £164,000 from the
Council’s Emergency Funding Reserve;
 
d)  
In light of the failure of the Government to commit to a fifth
tranche of Household Support Fund, to agree the proposals for how
the Council will fund direct crisis support from April 2024
onwards, in the absence of Government support (paragraphs
53-54);
 
e)  
To agree to top up the Emergency Funding Reserve by £1.5m as
outlined in paragraph 61; and
 
f)   To note the progress of the 2023/24
Winter Fuel Grant scheme as outlined at paragraph 30 and agree to
fund any additional (estimated to be £96k) from the
Council’s Emergency Funding Reserve.