Agenda item

This report provides an update to Cabinet on the action the Council is taking to mitigate the impact of the Cost of Living crisis on Brent residents and businesses. Furthermore, it updates on future planned activity to support residents and to monitor the ongoing impact of the Cost of Living crisis on people in Brent through the implementation of a local framework and an Outcome Based Review.  Approval is also being sought for additional funding to top up the Brent Resident Support Fund in response to an expected increase in demand for financial support due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Cabinet RESOLVED

(1)     To note the proposed approach to implementing the Cost of Living Outcome Based Review (OBR) as outlined in section 5 of the report and the emerging Framework as outlined in section 6 of the report.

(2)     To approve the allocation of an addition £3 million of Council funds for this financial year (2022/23) to the Resident Support Fund for the reasons outlined in section 4 of the report, and agree to discussions to allocate additional funds in future financial years (2023/24, 2024/25).

(3)     To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Customer and Digital Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Citizen Experience to amend the eligibility criteria for the Brent Resident Support Fund throughout the lifetime of the scheme as required.

Councillor Southwood (Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy & Citizens Experience) introduced a report providing an update on actions being taken by the Council to respond and mitigate against the impact of the cost of living crisis on Brent residents and businesses.  The report also outlined a number of planned future activities to support residents and monitor the ongoing impact of the crisis across the borough as well as seeking additional funding for the Brent Resident Support Fund in response to the increase in demand for financial support being experienced.

In considering the report, Cabinet noted the background to the current cost of living crisis and negative impact this was having in relation to local residents standards of living across the borough, with Brent still having one of the highest claimant unemployment rates nationally.  Members commended the mechanisms already established by the Council to support those residents struggling financially as a result of the crisis, as detailed within section 3.4 of the report, which had included making funding available through the Resident Support Fund, delivery of a number of Financial and Digital Inclusion projects, employment skills support and use of the Brent Hubs utilising not only funding provided through the Government but also direct financial support by the Council.  Whilst supporting residents in hardship the initiatives and interventions outlined had also been designed to complement key elements of key council strategies and plans including the Poverty Commission, Health and Wellbeing Strategy (linked to tackling health inequalities), Black Community Action Plan, Borough Plan and Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.

Whilst recognising the additional package of cost of living support announced by the Government in May 2022 members highlighted the extent of the crisis and ongoing hardship faced by residents across the borough.  Given the ongoing pressures identified in relation to household income, expenditure and utility bills and resulting increase in projected demand for financial support, support was expressed for the proposed allocation of additional funding to the Council’s Resident Support Fund (with members also having noted the breakdown of applications and grant funding awarded to date across all areas of the borough by ward).

Alongside the package of support already identified, members recognised the need to ensure a whole systems and outcome based approach towards addressing the cost of living crisis across the council and partner organisations, which had resulted in the proposals detailed within section 6 of the report to undertake an Outcome Based Review.  The aim of the approach identified would to shift focus from individual services on to a model that was designed (based on a wide range of engagement and learning) to create a more cohesive system and overarching framework for support across Brent.

In light of the increasing levels of hardship and need identified, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To note the proposed approach to implementing the Cost of Living Outcome Based Review (OBR) as outlined in section 5 of the report and the emerging Framework as outlined in section 6 of the report.

(2)       To approve the allocation of an addition £3 million of Council funds for this financial year (2022/23) to the Resident Support Fund for the reasons outlined in section 4 of the report, and agree to discussions to allocate additional funds in future financial years (2023/24, 2024/25).

(3)       To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Customer and Digital Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Citizen Experience to amend the eligibility criteria for the Brent Resident Support Fund throughout the lifetime of the scheme as required.