Decision - Cost of Living Update

An update on the Cost of Living report brought to P&R committee on 6 October 2022, also incorporating plans for the Household Support Fund 2023-24

RESOLVED: That the Committee - (i) Noted the update on key areas of work across the city in response to the rising cost of living set out in Appendix 1. (ii) Noted the outcome of the council's lobbying of central government for increased measures to prevent homelessness caused by the cost of living crisis and an increase to the National Living Wage (Appendix 2). (iii) Noted the report in Appendix 3 from the Institute for Employment Studies, analysing the impact of areas and groups most at risk from the rising cost of living in the Brighton Greater Area. (iv) Noted the outcomes of the Cost of Living Summit, a summary of which can be found in Appendix 4. (v) Noted the information leaflet sent to all households in the city in November, detailing the additional support available this winter through the government's Household Support Fund, plus b information on how to access help and support with energy, money advice, food and health and wellbeing support, which can be found in Appendix 5. (vi) Approved the proposed indicative allocation of the Household Support Fund for 2023/24 as set out at 4.13 noting the associated Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 6. (vii) Delegated adjustments to allocations to the Chief Finance Officer, within the bounds of the council's rules for virement, where there is evidence of changing need throughout the 12-month period, to ensure that all of the fund is utilised. (viii) Approved the proposed distribution of any excess funding emanating from the government's new Council Tax Support scheme, after the £25 discount to each household eligible for Council Tax Reduction has been administered, as set out in paragraph 4.20 of the report.

The report provides updates on the cost-of-living crisis across emergency food, domestic energy, housing and small businesses in Brighton & Hove. It describes rising hardship, identifies groups most affected, and outlines existing local support, gaps and proposed areas for further action.