Agenda item

(1)       Mr Gough proposed, and Mrs Bell seconded the motion that

“County Council:

(a)       Notes and discusses the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people and households and the current response to it.

(b)       Notes that a separate report on the impacts of the crisis on businesses and enterprises and the support available will be presented to the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee.

(c)       Notes that the Financial Hardship Programme will continue to provide support to people and households over the winter period.

(d)       Notes that a third round of the Household Support Fund is expected to be provided by Government and, depending on any restrictions, KCC’s intention is to allocate the funding as it has previously between support for families eligible for free school meals, some funding issued to District and Borough Councils, some funding provided through KSAS, and some funding held for dedicated support with water and energy bills.

(e)       Agrees that KCC will lobby Government to ensure that any cost-of-living grant support to local authorities has clear objectives but limited restrictions to allow KCC Page 31 and its partners to flexibly meet local need, and that capacity funding is provided to local authorities to administer and deliver any such schemes.

(f)         Agrees that KCC will lobby Government to consider the immediate and direct benefit of providing grants schemes targeted at vulnerable households to improve thermal insulation.

(g)       Notes that an emergency meeting of Joint Kent Leaders is being held on 15 September to discuss the cost-of-living crisis and how Kent councils should respond jointly.

(h)       Notes the potential for the Integrated Care Partnership to be the vehicle through which Kent and Medway partners can work together to jointly address the medium to longer term impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and that the Integrated Care Partnership will discuss a paper about cost of living at their October meeting and consider a collective response.”

(2)       Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1.

(3)       RESOLVED that the County Council:

(a)       Notes and discusses the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people and households and the current response to it.

(b)       Notes that a separate report on the impacts of the crisis on businesses and enterprises and the support available will be presented to the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee.

(c)       Notes that the Financial Hardship Programme will continue to provide support to people and households over the winter period.

(d)       Notes that a third round of the Household Support Fund is expected to be provided by Government and, depending on any restrictions, KCC’s intention is to allocate the funding as it has previously between support for families eligible for free school meals, some funding issued to District and Borough Councils, some funding provided through KSAS, and some funding held for dedicated support with water and energy bills.

(e)       Agrees that KCC will lobby Government to ensure that any cost-of-living grant support to local authorities has clear objectives but limited restrictions to allow KCC Page 31 and its partners to flexibly meet local need, and that capacity funding is provided to local authorities to administer and deliver any such schemes.

(f)         Agrees that KCC will lobby Government to consider the immediate and direct benefit of providing grants schemes targeted at vulnerable households to improve thermal insulation.

(g)       Notes that an emergency meeting of Joint Kent Leaders is being held on 15 September to discuss the cost-of-living crisis and how Kent councils should respond jointly.

(h)       Notes the potential for the Integrated Care Partnership to be the vehicle through which Kent and Medway partners can work together to jointly address the medium to longer term impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and that the Integrated Care Partnership will discuss a paper about cost of living at their October meeting and consider a collective response.