Issue - meetings

To consider the impact of Covid-19 on poverty in the Borough – people with low incomes, the unemployed and the homeless.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 25 to 200, which gave details of the impact of Covid-19 on poverty in the Borough, specifically individuals and families with low incomes, unemployment and homelessness.

Laura Callan (Strategy and Planning Manager, Insight and Change) attended the meeting to introduce the report. Also in attendance were Simon Price (Assistant Director, Housing, Income and Assessments), Emma Cantrell (First Days Children’s Charity), Annette Medhurst (Wokingham Foodbank) and Jake Morrison (Citizens Advice Wokingham).

The report stated that, whilst the Borough had consistently been one of the least deprived unitary authorities in England, there were individuals and families living on low incomes and there were challenges to ensure that opportunities were available for every resident. The End Child Poverty report indicated that, after housing costs, 17% of children in the Borough were living in poverty.

The Covid-19 pandemic had had a significant impact with the shut-down of large sections of the economy. The impacts included:

·           A 223% increase in claims for out of work benefits between February and August 2020;

·           Furloughing of 21,700 people in the Borough as at August 2020;

·           A disproportionate impact on workers from the BAME community, women, young workers, low paid and disabled workers;

·           120 young people at risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET), significantly up on previous years;

·           Increase in demand for support from Citizens Advice;

·           220% increase in people accessing the Wokingham Foodbank during March-August 2020, compared to 2019;

·           479% increase in children eligible for free school meals between March-August 2020, compared to 2019.

The report stated that the Council had worked with partners to deliver a number of interventions, including:

·           Operation of the Citizens Advice “One Front Door”;

·           The “All In” policy which supported rough sleepers into accommodation;

·           Financial support to providers in the community and voluntary sector;

·           Flexible repayment plans for Council Tax and the Council Tax Hardship Fund;

·           Support to residents through the Community Engagement Team;

·           Support for Council tenants delivered by the Tenancy Sustainment Team.

The report stated that, whilst there were a number of intervention points available to the Council, not all issues could be resolved locally. In some instances, the Council was restricted by Government policy or may not be best placed to deliver the appropriate solution. The Council would continue to monitor data and local intelligence, working with partners to understand and need and to establish the most effective intervention points to support individuals and families.

In the ensuing discussion Members and guests raised the following points:

It was important to use language carefully when talking about poverty. The Borough was frequently referred to as being one of the healthiest and wealthiest in the country. However, as the report indicated, there were over 7,000 children living in relative poverty.

Jake Morrison stated that Citizens Advice Wokingham were working on a report for the Borough, Town and Parish Councils which would give details of deprivation levels, broken down into local areas. Citizens Advice was also running national campaigns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46