Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report provided an update on delivery of key actions in the Council’s third Anti-Poverty Strategy, which covers the period 2020-2023. During 2021/22 the Council has delivered a range of planned actions to help address a range of issues associated with poverty, including low pay, debt, food poverty, fuel poverty, digital inclusion, skills, employment, housing affordability, homelessness, and poor health outcomes.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Equalities, Anti-Poverty and Wellbeing

      i.         Noted the progress in delivering actions to reduce poverty in Cambridge during 2021/22.

    ii.         Agreed to extend the end date of the existing Anti-Poverty Strategy from March 2023 to March 2024.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

In response to questions, the Strategy and Partnerships Manager stated that:

Although there was no proposal to formally adopt the socio-economic duty set out in the Equality Act 2010, the Council was already implementing many of the steps needed to ensure that socio-economic impacts are considered as part of the council’s decision making process as set out in the report.  The Council’s equalities impact assessment  is being adapted to take into account the socio-economic impact of the council’s policies and actions.

There will be on-going updates for Members on the impact of the cost of living crisis including the heating/housing issues which will be faced this winter.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.