Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Zoe Nicholson and Matthew Bird

(Key decision):

(1) To note the initiatives undertaken to date to support those in need.

(2) To approve that up to £250k be allocated from the newly created Cost of Living Support Earmarked Reserve, to establish a cost of living crisis fund along with officer time for its administration.

(3) To agree that the Deputy Chief Executive be given delegated authority to allocate the cost of living crisis fund in consultation with the Leader.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an update on measures taken and seeking agreement to a range of measures to support local people struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC) at its meeting on 29 June 2022, made the following recommendation to Cabinet:

To support the officer recommendations in the Cabinet report, subject to the following amended recommendation being considered by the Cabinet:

(2) To approve that up to £250k be allocated from the newly created Cost of Living Support Earmarked Reserve, to establish a cost of living crisis fund along with officer time for its administration.

Councillor Linington, Vice-Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee and Leader of the Opposition, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion and comment on behalf of the Conservative Group.

In response to a question from Councillor Linington, Councillor Nicholson advised that a report would be presented to September’s Cabinet, outlining how the previously earmarked £500,000 to support households would be distributed. It was also previously agreed that the Opposition Group would be consulted as part of setting the criteria for the allocation process.

Debbie Twitchen, Tenants Representative and Stef Lake, Lewes District Food Partnership spoke in support of the report and officer recommendations.

Following discussion, the Cabinet unanimously agreed to accept PPAC’s recommendation and amend resolution (2), and this was reflected below.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the initiatives undertaken to date to support those in need.

(2) To approve that up to £250k be allocated from the newly created Cost of Living Support Earmarked Reserve, to establish a cost of living crisis fund along with officer time for its administration.

(3) To agree that the Deputy Chief Executive be given delegated authority to allocate the cost of living crisis fund in consultation with the Leader.

Reason for decisions:

To help support those worst affected by the cost of living crisis.