A report on the actions Herefordshire Council and its partners are taking to protect people against higher costs.

Report paper to follow.

Hilary Hall (Corporate Director Community Wellbeing) presented slides on the Cost of Living - Herefordshire Response . The director explained that she felt a cost of living commission, pulled together under the auspices of the Health and wellbeing board, would allow all the partners of the board to come together and say what could be done together and as individuals. A commission would also allow the voice of residents to be heard directly, which would avoiding second guessing how the cost of living crisis impacts individuals, families and communities. By coming together as a set of partners including housing associations and the volunteering community sector, it might be possible to get an accurate sense of what’s going on and then to engage with residents via talk community hubs. The slides contained four recommendations and the Director invited discussion on these from the board.

The board welcomed the recommendations and felt that a commission that could assist in creating a place where all available advice and support was in one place would be of enormous value. It was also stated that the ICB was very keen to work with the board and the council in this area. The voluntary community sector attendee highlighted the pressure the sector was under as people tightened their belts and said the VCS would welcome the opportunity to be involved in a broader discussion about the cost of living.

The recommendations were proposed, seconded and approved unanimously.

APPROVED

That:

a)      Continue to promote the range of ways in which the council and its partners supports residents in need, particularly through Talk Community and Money on your Mind.

b)      Ensure that specific support is in place for those for whom Herefordshire Council is a corporate parent.

c)       Establish a Cost of Living Commission to gather information and identify other actions that the council and its partners can take to support residents. D)

d)      Develop a longer term strategy for working with the voluntary and community sector, building on the foundations established over the last two years.