The Director of Public Health introduced the report which provided an update on actions undertaken by the Cost-of-Living Action Group following a series of recommendations agreed by Policy and Resources Committee on 31 August to address the impact of the increase cost of living on residents and businesses in the Borough.

An overview was provided of the financial support available to residents to help with cost-of-living pressures, including the Emergency Financial Hardship Fund and supplementary Discretionary Housing Payments, for both of which Wirral was on outlier in terms of the extent of the support available. It was reported that the Department for Work and Pensions had updated its guidance to address the issue of residents in receipt of housing benefits only not being able to access other government support, where it was estimated approximately 1,500 Wirral residents were affected and funding would be required to support this cohort.

Following queries from members, the Director of Public Health undertook to review the communications plan to ensure hard to reach residents such as those who had never had to access support and those digitally excluded were engaged. It was further clarified that the public health spend would be reviewed to ensure it was delivering effective public health outcomes.

Following advice from the Monitoring Officer, it was moved that by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Jean Robinson, that the recommendations as detailed in the report be moved subject to the amending of recommendation 3 so that delegated authority be given to the relevant Director with portfolio rather than the Senior Leadership Team. This was put and agreed by assent. It was therefore –

Resolved – That

(1)  the actions completed by the Cost-of-Living Action Group in addressing the recommendations of the Committee of 31 August 2022 be noted.

(2)  further reports on actions to address cost of living challenges for residents be reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board to ensure that there is strategic oversight from partners on action being taken to mitigate cost of living challenges.

(3)  authority be delegated to the relevant Director with portfolio to manage the allocation of the Household Support Fund via Officer Decision Notices based on insight from local people.