Issue - meetings

To consider a reference from the OSC on recommendations in respect of the Anti-Poverty Task & Finish Group

Meeting: 28/06/2021 - Cabinet (Item 18)

18 Recommendations of the Anti-Poverty Task & Finish Group pdf icon PDF 303 KB

Minutes:

It was noted that Claire Cordell, CEO of Rother Voluntary Action had unfortunately been unable to attend the meeting.

 

Cabinet received and considered Minute OSC21/06 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) held on 7 June 2021 that had considered the recommendations of the Anti-Poverty Task and Finish Group (APT&FG).  The Head of Housing and Community outlined the work and findings undertaken and discovered by the APT&FG with the main challenges identified as service co-ordination, accessibility and promotion.  Many solutions had also been identified, as detailed within the report.  The Chairman of the APT&FG, Councillor Coleman, thanked officers and external partners for their contribution and the resulting recommendations.   

 

Following the review and endorsement by the OSC, it was recommended that the Council develop an Anti-Poverty Strategy and Action Plan between partner services, with the assistance of Rother Voluntary Action.  Members were keen to ensure that the OSC would monitor the progress of the Strategy once in place and the Chairman of the OSC agreed to this undertaking.  During the debate, the following points were made:

 

Ø  the average reading age was an issue and a barrier to accessing help and assistance;

Ø  help needed to be available in the places where those that needed help were – proactive reaching out was required;

Ø  the promotion and establishment of more community hubs was key;

Ø  Local Housing Allowance levels, set by the Government, were too low for this area and the private rented sector prices – the Council should do more to lobby local MPs;

Ø  could Members be involved in the officer review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Hardship Fund – thresholds seemed very high and difficult for claimants to qualify; and

Ø  economic development to increase quality employment opportunities was essential.

 

With regard to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), it was clear that moving towards a 100% CTRS would have significant financial implications on the Council and other organisations who received a share of council tax revenue.  The OSC were therefore supportive of the approach to review and better promote the current Hardship Fund; the request that consideration be given to increasing the maximum support under the CTRS above the current 80% when the Council achieved its financial stability ambition; and to consult with the public and key stakeholders on improving access to CTRS for self-employed people who were also carers and those self-employed residents who were registered disabled.

 

RESOLVED: That:

 

1)    an Anti-Poverty Strategy and Action Plan be developed for the district between partner services, led by the Council in partnership with Rother Voluntary Action and the Local Strategic Partnership;

 

2)    the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Hardship Fund be reviewed by officers and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on options for improving the promotion of the scheme and the potential of establishing a mechanism for public donations to supplement the Hardship Fund;

 

3)    the maximum support under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme be increased above  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18