Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on delivery of key actions in the Council’s third Anti-Poverty Strategy, which covers the period 2020-2024.

During 2022/23 the Council delivered a range of planned actions to help address issues associated with poverty, including low pay, debt, food poverty, fuel poverty, digital inclusion, skills, employment, housing affordability, homelessness, and poor health outcomes. The report also provided an update on a range of activities that the Council delivered and helped facilitate to support residents with the rising cost of living.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

      i.          Noted the progress in delivering actions to reduce poverty in Cambridge during 2022/23 (as set out at 4.1 in the Officer’s report and in the full APS annual report at Appendix A)

     ii.          Noted the activities that were delivered during 2022/23 to support residents with the rising cost of living (as set out at 4.2 in the Officer’s report and in the full APS annual report at Appendix A).

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.          The Ward Spaces Scheme was expected to continue. Officers were looking at ‘how’ in conjunction with the community and voluntary sector. People came for a sense of community/activities as well as warmth.

Councillor Swift said West Chesterton had a Community Drop-in Scheme similar to the Ward Spaces Scheme. It was a community asset that started since covid lockdown. Food security was an issue for residents. People could donate to food hubs, but primary schools and libraries were also getting involved (as food collection hubs) in his ward. Donations from supermarkets were variable in their quantity and selection of food offered. Queried if community grants could be made available to promote and extend the scheme.

The Executive Councillor for Communities said lots of volunteer work occurred across the city to fill gaps in the cost of living from Central Government. There was a grants program to support work which would open in autumn 2023.

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.