Agenda item

The Impact of Covid-19 on People with Low Income the Unemployed and the Homeless

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

Minutes:

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 relating to fair and safe employment and improvements to Universal Credit. Jake commented that joint working through the pandemic had taken partnerships to a new level. Citizens Advice were providing training for front-line WBC staff on issues such as mental health. Any support from Members relating to the Citizens Advice national campaigns would be welcome.

 

Emma Cantrell stated that First Days was keen to work in partnership with the Council and other stakeholders. Effective partnership working was not always about funding. Working together may drive innovation which could actually make services more targeted and efficient, thereby save money. Emma agreed that the co-production of an anti-poverty strategy would be a positive step forwards.

 

Annette Medhurst stated that, although the number of people accessing the Wokingham Foodbank had returned close to pre-pandemic levels, there was likely to be an increase as Government support reduced and unemployment increased in the Borough. Annette was now in a regular dialogue with senior leaders at the Council which was a positive development.

 

Andy Croy raised the issue of care leavers who, currently, were required to pay Council Tax between the ages of 21 to 25. Andy referred to a discussion at the recent Corporate Parenting Board meeting and suggested that the Committee may wish to consider making a recommendation to the Executive on this issue. Susan Parsonage commented that this issue should be considered as part of the Budget process as there were already overspends within Children’s Services budgets.

 

What was the local impact of the pandemic on poverty levels in the BAME community? Jake Morrison commented that there had been a positive response to the BAME community, helped by the One Front Door approach. This had been supported by the Council’s regular communications. Citizens Advice were aiming to work with specific groups within the BAME community to improve awareness and understanding of support available locally. The stated aim of developing greater local intelligence would support this process. The Council’s community engagement officers were also working in local communities to support individuals and families.

 

Was there a link between zero-hours contracts and poverty? Laura Callan commented that insecure employment did have an impact as people may not be able to work enough hours each week to earn enough to take them out of poverty.

 

As a result of the pandemic, were local schools able to provide hot lunches for their pupils? Laura Callan commented that the Council did monitor the contract with local schools. Whilst, initially, a number of schools had moved to packed lunches, there was a movement back to the provision of hot meals. Further information on this point could be shared with Members.

 

In conclusion, Susan Parsonage stated that the Council was committed to working in partnership. The discussion tonight had highlighted the importance of more detailed local intelligence and insight. The Council wanted to work with key stakeholders to understand the experience of individuals and families in the Borough. Improved knowledge about local needs would inform the Council’s strategic direction for example through the co-production of an anti-poverty strategy. As the discussion illustrated, effective partnership working was not necessarily about funding. It was about working together to develop new ideas and new opportunities which may actually save money in the long run. Covid-19 had led to a greater focus on the impact of the pandemic on the poorest members of the community. However, the Council was committed to working in partnership to tackle this issue, regardless of the pandemic.

 

Following the discussion, the Committee considered appropriate recommendations to the Executive, as follows:

 

It was moved by Andrew Mickleburgh and seconded by Sarah Kerr that:

 

“the Executive, in view of the multi-dimensional nature of “poverty”, in all discussions, data, policy and action, focus on all who are suffering different types of rising and significant levels of hardship.”

 

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

 

It was moved by Andy Croy and seconded by Sarah Kerr that:

 

the Executive urgently re-examine the issue of 21 to 25 year old care leavers paying Council Tax, for the remainder of this financial year.”

 

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

 

It was moved by Andy Croy and seconded by Sarah Kerr that:

 

“The Executive instruct Officers to urgently engage with poverty facing charities to formalise 1) communications and 2) support offered by Wokingham Borough Council to these charities”.

 

On being out to the vote the proposal was not agreed.

 

It was proposed by Sarah Kerr and seconded by Paul Fishwick that:

 

“This Committee recommend to the Executive that this Council will co-produce an anti-poverty strategy;

 

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

 

It was proposed by Sarah Kerr and seconded by Pauline Helliar-Symons that:

 

this Committee recommend to the Executive that this Council will limit the use of comparative data and benchmarking narrative, such as being ranked the least deprived upper tier authority, when talking about poverty, except when making specific reference to reduction in poverty.”

 

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.  

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)        Laura Callan, Simon Price, Emma Cantrell, Annette Medhurst and Jake Morrison be thanked for attending the meeting;

 

2)        the Committee recommend to the Executive that the Council, in view of the multi-dimensional nature of “poverty”, in all discussions, data, policy and action, focus on all who are suffering different types of rising and significant levels of hardship;

 

3)        the Committee recommend to the Executive that it urgently re-examines the issue of 21 to 25 year old care leavers paying Council Tax, for the remainder of this financial year;

 

4)        the Committee recommend to the Executive that this Council will co-produce an anti-poverty strategy;

 

5)        the Committee recommend to the Executive that this Council will limit the use of comparative data and benchmarking narrative, such as being ranked the least deprived upper tier authority, when talking about poverty, except when making specific reference to reduction in poverty.

Supporting documents: