11 Cost of Living Crisis Update EXE23-012 PDF 147 KB
Reporting Person – Louise Strongitharm
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Following the Cost of Living Summit held in September 2022, the Executive received a report which provided an update on the Woking response to the Cost of Living crisis and which reported on progress on the action plan. It was noted that Citizen’s Advice Woking had experienced a 30% increase in new clients. The Leader drew attention to a number of local initiatives developing across the voluntary sector. The Executive welcomed the creation and promotion of 19 Warm Hubs across the Borough which had been visited by over 2,200 people to the end of December. Food initiatives were highlighted such as the membership scheme at the Shopwise store in Sheerwater. It was hoped that potential venues could be explored for a similar membership scheme for a ‘Community Grocery’ store run by the Welcome Church. It was confirmed that the Council had been awarded a third tranche of the Household Support Fund to be distributed to residents by the end of 2022/23.
Following a question, the Executive was informed that the Cost of Living Partnership Group was an Officer Group created by Surrey County Council to bring together stakeholders across the County. The Group included representatives from Public Health, Communications, Local Resilience Forum, Emergency Management and Response, District and Borough Communities, and Surrey Heartlands.
The Executive thanked the various organisations and partners for their work to support and help residents, as well as Officers for bringing local support networks together to strengthen the local offer for residents.
RESOLVEd
That the ongoing local response to the Cost-of-Living crisis from the Council, partners, and organisations across the voluntary and faith sector be noted, in line with the action plan.
Reason: To ensure Woking residents access the support they need this Winter with the Cost of Living and to monitor progress against the action plan.