Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to provide an update regarding the actions taken by the Cost of Living Strategic Working Group and the outcome of the Wellbeing Fair which was held on 25 February 2023.

The Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities presented the report that outlined the work undertaken by the cost of living strategic working group.

At the previous meeting, the Committee had recognised the Council’s immediate and future responses requirement to be focused and have clear steps that could be taken further to support businesses and residents within the district.

The work undertaken had involved Officers cross cutting from various service areas of the Council, including communications, community engagement, economic development, finance, housing, HR, revenues and benefits and customer services. Officers had ensured that steps set out in the action plan for both the Council and partners were undertaken to support those most impacted by the cost of living.

The working group had agreed the key themes for developing and implementing support for businesses and residents, positive relationships with support from organisations, particular Members of the external task force and those who supported the wellbeing fair on 25 February 2023, hosted 2 external task force meeting with support organisations. The full list of actions completed by the group were detailed within Appendix 1.

The Head of Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services urged Parish and District Councillors to contact the team if they had any residents with concerns or required any information. A dedicated cost of living email address was provided: costofliving@southkesteven.gov.uk

One Member queried as to how business and resident outreach would be provided to rural areas of the district. It was further queried as to whether the Council were communicating with Parish Council’s on the cost of living.

It was questioned as to whether any businesses and residents from around the district attended the wellbeing fair, or whether it was merely people from Grantham.

The Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities confirmed that this wellbeing fair was predominantly for Grantham residents, however, it had been promoted across the district via social media and on the Council’s website. Parish Council’s had been contracted regarding the dedicated cost of living email address and leaflets to hand out to residents, however, there were not many responses received.

It was noted that rural areas of the district were difficult to reach out to and the Council were exploring ways of integrating the wellbeing fair with other organisations.

One Member queried as to why mortgage providers, bankers or building societies were not invited to the wellbeing fair, due to mortgages being the biggest affect of cost of living.

Mortgage providers, bankers or building societies were not invited to the wellbeing fair, however, Citizens Advice Bureau were in attendance to provide debt advice as well as other organisations.

Members commended the work undertaken by the strategic working group and the cost of living leaflets which had been delivered in a hard copy format to maximise the distribution as far as possible. 

One Member suggested more proactive communications of another wellbeing fair taking place across the district and also to encourage Councillors to publicise the event.

The Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities confirmed that a ‘lessons learnt’ document would be created to further improve the event in the future. Councillors were advised of the cost-of-living event within the All Member Briefing provided by the Leader of the Council. 

It was proposed, seconded, and AGREED that the Committee:

1.    Consider the report and comment on the potential of future wellbeing fairs across other locations in the district, in order for the Cost of Living Working Group to review viability of any future events.

2.    Approval for the Strategic Working Group continue to review the impacts of cost of living and implement activities within the action plan to support businesses and residents of South Kesteven.