Decision

RESOLVED

(i)             That a three year subscription to the Policy in Practice Low Income Family Tracker and Better Off Calculator and to delegate authority to the Director of Communities to approve the award, and the entering into of, the necessary contract(s) be agreed;

(ii)            To fund a three year fixed term Cost of Living Officer post; and

(iii)           To fund Citizens Advice to employ an advisor for a three year period.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(i)             To approve the use of funding of up to £45,600 from the Cost of Living Earmarked Reserve towards the costs of recommendations (i) to (iii) above in 2026/27; and

(ii)            To note that the costs for 2027/28 and beyond will be built into the Council’s budget.

REASONS

To support and enable low income residents in the Horsham District to access the benefits and other support to which they are entitled.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED AS IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT

The first option is to not purchase the package. In January 2025, it was considered that there would be negligible value in continuing to use LIFT. However, with the improvements to the software and the broader range of data sources, the product has significantly improved, and it is considered that it can have a quantifiable impact on people’s lives.  

Purchase the product with effect from April 2027. Internal discussions had originally been taking place on this basis. However, when the scale of the unclaimed benefit was understood, it was considered appropriate to ‘fast track’ the decision, so that it can be implemented sooner and therefore people can benefit from it at an earlier date.