A Cambridge City Council website

Cambridge City Council

Council and democracy

Home > Council and Democracy > Issue

Issue - meetings

Anti-Poverty Strategy 2020-2023

Meeting: 02/07/2020 - Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee (Item 20)

20 Anti-Poverty Strategy 2020-2023 pdf icon PDF 404 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Matter for Decision

The Council has produced two previous Anti-Poverty Strategies covering the periods from 2014-2017 and 2017-2020. The Officer’s report provided an update on delivery of key actions included in the 2017-2020 Strategy.

 

The Officer’s report also presented a revised Anti-Poverty Strategy for the 2020-2023 period for approval.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

Approved the revised Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2020-2023 and the accompanying action plan

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategy and Partnerships Manager.

 

The Strategy and Partnerships Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         74 employers had been accredited as paying a living wage out of 4,400 across the city. Residents were also being paid a living wage by some employers who did not have the accreditation.

    ii.         Larger employers had been approached first. Small and medium employers were next.

   iii.         In order to be accredited, companies would have to sign up to paying a living wage to employees and contractors.

  iv.         A lot of dedicated work had been put into the Living Wage Campaign. A lot of 1-2-1 work and networking at business conferences was required with employers to convince them of the need. More work was required but the living wage featured prominently in the Anti-Poverty Strategy.

    v.         More people were attending food banks. The City Council was part of the food poverty alliance. This funded work through grants to city residents. Work was ongoing during the corona virus pandemic.

  vi.         There was a bid in the council’s Budget Setting Report for a project to establish a food hub in the city with voluntary groups.

 vii.         It was hard to quantify the impact of Universal Credit on residents. Stakeholders had raised issues with officers about being responsible for managing their own personal budgets; this was difficult if one was not experienced. Officers could offer support to try and avoid people experiencing financial difficulties and rent arears.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.