Agenda item

11.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement submitted a report providing an update on the cross-city Cost of Living response, including the Winter Plan. It also provides an update on plans to spend a previously ringfenced fund from the Household Support Fund (delegated to the Director of Communities) and sets out the approach that responds to recent Full Council motions.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

(a) notes the approach outlined in this report that responds to recent relevant Full Council motions;

(b) notes the report’s update on amounts previously ringfenced from the Household Support Fund and the plan to allocate amounts that are now available to the application scheme; and

(c) approves the adjusted ring fenced spend, as detailed in the report,  and notes it as being consistent with the delegation to the Director of Communities in the 12 July 2023 Strategy and Resources Committee report.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The recommendations build on the commitments made by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 31 May 2022 and 5 June 2022 and 12 July 2023 to support Sheffielders through the Cost of Living crisis. Working with communities and partners across the city, the recommendations ensure that SCC will continue to play a leading role through the strategic and tactical incident-type response.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

Allocate the ringfenced amount to another aspect of the response. This was dismissed as it would not address the risks associated with increased demand for the application scheme and it would not help us to meet the objectives of the Full Council motions.

11.4.2

Target the ringfenced amount to specific groups. Dismissed, as outlined above because we were unable to obtain information that would allow us to make the targeted payments and people in this group are able to make an application for the household support fund.

11.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement submitted a report providing an update on the cross-city Cost of Living response, including the Winter Plan. It also provides an update on plans to spend a previously ringfenced fund from the Household Support Fund (delegated to the Director of Communities) and sets out the approach that responds to recent Full Council motions.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

(a) notes the approach outlined in this report that responds to recent relevant Full Council motions;

(b) notes the report’s update on amounts previously ringfenced from the Household Support Fund and the plan to allocate amounts that are now available to the application scheme; and

(c) approves the adjusted ring fenced spend, as detailed in the report,  and notes it as being consistent with the delegation to the Director of Communities in the 12 July 2023 Strategy and Resources Committee report.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The recommendations build on the commitments made by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 31 May 2022 and 5 June 2022 and 12 July 2023 to support Sheffielders through the Cost of Living crisis. Working with communities and partners across the city, the recommendations ensure that SCC will continue to play a leading role through the strategic and tactical incident-type response.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

Allocate the ringfenced amount to another aspect of the response. This was dismissed as it would not address the risks associated with increased demand for the application scheme and it would not help us to meet the objectives of the Full Council motions.

11.4.2

Target the ringfenced amount to specific groups. Dismissed, as outlined above because we were unable to obtain information that would allow us to make the targeted payments and people in this group are able to make an application for the household support fund.