Resolved – That the Policy & Resources Committee:

1. recognises the cost of living rise as a crisis for the Borough and that the Authority’s response to assist citizens and businesses in need is declared as a priority in the coming period;

2. authorise the Chief Executive and Directors to:

a.  collate and communicate the services and facilities that the Council can offer residents and businesses and the means by which they may access that support; and

b.  work with community groups and other bodies to co-ordinate and assist, directly and through inclusion within the Cost of Living Action Group, to ensure the best delivery of services and facilities that may provide assistance across the Borough in responding to the cost of living crisis: and

3. incorporate the cost of living crisis as a stand-alone item for the Group Leaders’ (Member Working Group) agenda for the Group Leaders to be briefed upon ongoing issues and liaise with the Cost of Living Action Group and to report back to a future meeting of the Committee the progress being made to support the crisis

4. That the Director of Resources report to the earliest possible meeting of this Committee on:

  i.  a review of all council buildings, including libraries and leisure centres, and provide the additional energy costings to keep them open during the Winter months to provide safe and warm spaces for residents who are struggling with the cost of living crisis;

  ii.  updating the Committee on work with our partners including the NHS, police, fire service, community and faith sector groups, to establish buildings that can be accessed by residents during the winter months to keep them safe and warm;

  iii.  a breakdown of all funding found to be available to community groups currently providing a support to residents in need, with a view to continuing and/or increasing it to ensure that residents are offered support during the cost of living crisis;

  iv.  a review of schemes to support residents such as fuel top ups whether the frequency and value of the support can be increased and the capacity within organisations to deliver additional support to residents to enable as many people as possible to stay warm at home for longer;

  v.  a review of COMF to support the cost of living crisis; 

  vi.  an update on the £113,000 proposed by the Labour Group and agreed at full Council to address fuel poverty;

 vii.  a review of all reserves in light of this crisis and whether any can be used and or re-purposed in support of Wirral’s cost of living crisis.

5.  recognises the Government provided over £200 million to support our residents through the Covid crisis. From the latest tranche funding figures, £673,155 remains uncommitted from a total of £8.5 million. Therefore, Policy and Resources resolves to transfer this uncommitted spend to the Emergency Financial Support Scheme and Discretionary Housing Scheme to support those residents who can demonstrate they have suffered financial hardship as a direct result of Covid, subject to the equivalent amount of funding being released from core budgets.