Agenda item

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement.

(a)           That the funded activity for 2023-24 and the outcomes achieved, be noted.

(b)           That Cabinet agree to earmark a further £2m from Council reserves to support the continuation of a targeted programme of work to support our most vulnerable residents and to complement and address any gaps in other national and local support programmes.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement, to agree the targeted programme of work in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Development (S151) and having regard to any views and recommendations of the Place and Resources Overview Committee.

(d)           That financial support for the cost-of-living agenda be considered as part of the Council’s annual budget setting process.

The Cabinet member for Customer, Culture, and Community Engagement set out a report asking Cabinet to note the programme of activities developed to complement and enhance the support provided by central government and Dorset Council in the financial year 2023-24.  The paper also proposed to earmark a further £2m from reserves for a targeted programme of work to support the most vulnerable residents in the Dorset area for the remainder of this financial year.

Cabinet was advised that the detail of targeted programme of work would be agreed by the Cabinet member in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Development (S151) following consideration of the programme by the Place and Resources Overview Committee. It was also proposed that any further financial support to the cost-of-living should be considered as part of the budget setting process.

The Business Partner for Communities and Partnerships confirmed that any future programme developed would be a mix of assisting with gaps in government provision and supporting our voluntary organisations. She also highlighted that the data set out in the report indicated that many of the organisations the council currently supported were struggling to keep up with demand.

Responding to questions, the Cabinet member understood the concerns expressed around delivery, community fridges and larders.  However, details around food security, framework of the programme and how it should be delivered would be discussed at the meeting of the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 11 July 2024. The Leader of the Council confirmed that the £2m from reserves was a one-off payment with any future funding to be embedded as part of the annual budget setting process.

In response to questions around which overview committee this report should be referred to, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that Article 7 of the Constitution and the identification of a primary responsibility did not prevent either of the overview committees considering any matter that may cut across different theme areas (except for education functions).  So, for reasons of expediency and as the matter was cross cutting, it was acceptable for this issue to be considered by Place and Resources Overview Committee.  The Leader of the Council confirmed that he would ask the Chair of Place and Resources Overview Committee to invite members of the People and Health Overview Committee to attend the meeting to participate in the discussion.

Following questions and discussion by Cabinet members, the Chief Executive confirmed that the most appropriate committee for Appendix 1 of the report to be reviewed would be People and Health Scrutiny Committee should that be requested.

It was proposed by Cllr R Hope and seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Decision

(a)           That the funded activity for 2023-24 and the outcomes achieved, be noted.

(b)           That Cabinet agree to earmark a further £2m from Council reserves to support the continuation of a targeted programme of work to support our most vulnerable residents and to complement and address any gaps in other national and local support programmes.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement, to agree the targeted programme of work in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Development (S151) and having regard to any views and recommendations of the Place and Resources Overview Committee.

(d)           That financial support for the cost-of-living agenda be considered as part of the Council’s annual budget setting process.

Reason for the decision

Extensive support had been provided to Dorset Council residents over the last 12-18 months as outlined in the Cabinet report of 28 February 2023 and section 2 of this report.  A proactive, targeted, and flexible approach to supporting Dorset’s communities with the cost-of-living challenge in both the short and medium term, based on evidence and data sets would enable Dorset Council to continue to identify gaps in local and national support initiatives and target support to our most vulnerable residents.