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14.1

The Executive Director Neighbourhood Services
submitted a report providing a response to the Full Council motion
agreed on 4 September 2024, in respect of the Cost of Living
crisis.  The report also seeks to
address the concerns raised in the petition that was referred from
Full Council on 6 November 2024, requesting the Council to Restore
the Winter Fuel Allowance.

 

 

14.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and
Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) notes the
work undertaken to increase Pension Credits and to promote overall
uptake of unclaimed benefits, since the Council resolution of 4
September 2024 and the petition to Council from the 6 November
2024;
 
(b) endorses the
proposal to increase targeted support for benefits uptake, building
on the learning from the South Local Area Committee Pilot, and to
continue this work across the City as part of the Cost-of-Living
Partnership, for 12 months;
 
(c) agrees to
evaluate the current Cost of Living Hub model, in partnership with
the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector, to
enhance our alignment with Future Sheffield, our Target Operating
Model and Customer Experience/Communities Strategies;
and
 
(d) agrees that
a report outlining the future approach to Cost of Living Support be
presented to Strategy and Resources Committee in the autumn of
2025.

 

 

14.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

14.3.1

The
recommendations made provide direct responses to the Council
Motions on the Cost-of-Living from the Full Council Meeting on 4
September and address the issues raised in the petition referred
from Council on 6 November.

 

 

14.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

14.4.1

Alternative Option 1:
Commission other services to carry out the Pension Credit
Campaign and Income maximisation proposal. 
Rejected due to lack of any identified budget for any additional
activities and the need to mobilise quickly. The Pension Credit
Awareness campaign came with little notice from the MHCLG, and no
funding was given to Local Authorities to carry it out. It
specifically asked the Council to co-ordinate activity. We may be
able to consider this as a future option if funding is identified
with learning and recommendations from our proposed activity over
the next 12 months. 

 

 

14.4.2

Alternative Option 2:
Continue as is. This was rejected as the Cost-of-Living
Strategic Group was stood down during the summer and it requested
work to be taken place to look at longer term structural
inequalities that aligned with the Councils Priorities. 
 
This option risks further normalising emergency relief and
further embedding the wrong solution opposed to more upstream
preventative service delivery.