Content

9.1

The Strategic Director of Public Health and
Integrated Commissioning submitted a report seeking approval to
grant investment to Citizens Advice Sheffield (CAS) to achieve the
City’s aspiration of a world where there is no
poverty.
 
Poverty was already increasing in Sheffield
before Covid hit and the pandemic has
exacerbated inequalities and disproportionately affected the
city’s poorest communities.  Five
years on families are still struggling and living standards are not
getting any better.
 
Providing good financial and debt advice to
households is an essential part of our approach to tackling
poverty. 

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and
Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) recognises
the nature and the value of the debt and benefits advice currently
being provided by Citizens Advice Sheffield to council housing
tenants and people in the Adult Care and Wellbeing pathway;
 
(b) notes the
proposal as part of the Council’s continued approach to
tackling unfair gaps and where people live long, independent and
fulfilling lives free from harm and poverty;
 
(c) approves
grant investment from the Public Health grant reserve of
£300,000 to Citizens Advice Sheffield for the proposal as
detailed in this report until March 2028;
 
(d) agrees to
the continuation of this service by making of an award of up to
£98,000 per annum [£294,000 until March 2028] from
Housing Revenue Account as a grant to Citizens Advice Sheffield and
to make this a continuing financial commitment for a further 3
years subject to acceptable delivery and compliance with grant
terms; and
 
(e) agrees to
the continuation of this service by making of an award of up to
£110,800 per annum [£332,400 until March 2028] from
general funds as a grant to Citizens Advice Sheffield and to make
this a continuing financial commitment for a further 3 years
subject to acceptable delivery and compliance with grant
terms.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

The
recommendations build on the commitments made by the Strategy and
Resources Committee on 31st May and 5th July 2022 to support
Sheffielders through the cost-of-living crisis and previous grants
to Citizens Advice Sheffield.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

Do nothing – this was rejected as communities across
Sheffield are being impacted on by poverty. Working with CAS, we
hope we will help mitigate impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on
communities and co-ordinate support and interventions around those
that need it the most.