WOKINGHAM’S new anti-poverty strategy has been approved by the new Liberal Democrat-run executive at its first meeting.
It aims to support residents who are struggling with the rising cost of living and prevent others falling into poverty, and runs until 2026, starting with a one-year plan.
Development in partnership with the voluntary and community sector’s Hardship Alliance, established by the previous administration, the strategy builds on work established during the lockdown phase of the covid pandemic. It has three aims: supporting people with an aim to lifting them out of poverty, strengthening community resilience, and improving “life opportunities” for residents living in poverty.
There are three categories, those in persistent hardship, the just about managing, and asset rich but cash poor. This latter group includes residents who own their own home, but are struggling to pay for essentials and have no easily accessible savings.
Grant funding for £500,000 had been approved by the Conservative-run administration in March, funded from an earmarked reserve from the Local Council Tax Support Schemes Grant for 2021-22.
This will help continue the One Front Door scheme that sees people needing help contacting Wokingham’s Citizens Advice in the first instance. An inclusion officer would also be appointed on a two-year basis, while funding for a debt advice worker would also be made.
An extensive communications campaign will also be launched to encourage people to access the support they need.
Before the council voted, there was a question from Conservative Cllr Laura Blumenthal, who said she was pleased the new administration was continuing with the plans already drawn up as the council needed to do all it could to help residents.
She asked: “Can the Executive Member provide me with the reassurance that the Council will be able to successfully communicate with families and individuals in need to take up this money – and ensure that there is no money left in September, which is when the Fund needs to all be spent?”
Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, the new executive member for finance, said that the council’s customer service team are trained to recognise people who need help, and handed over to Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, who confirmed the money would be spent to help residents living in hardship.
“We have developed a plan for ensuring that the grant is spent on those most in need,” she promised, adding that they will be monitoring take-up to try and reach appropriate residents.”
During the recent half-term break, more than £40,000 was spent to help families who had free school meals to ensure they had food during the Platinum Jubilee holidays, and that the size of the families was taken into account when calculating payments.
“And we strengthened the support given to families who are living in hardship but not eligible for free school meals,” Cllr Bishop-Firth added.
Cllr Blumenthal wanted to know why there had been a month-long delay in sharing communications of the funding, given it had been received by the council in mid-May.
Responding, Cllr Bishop-Firth reiterated the support given during half-term, and the bulk of the money was for the summer holidays.
Later in the meeting, she then formally presented the council’s anti-poverty strategy report, saying the aim was to have a borough “where no one lives in poverty, where everyone can achieve their potential, and residents are happy, healthy and valued.
“We believe that Wokingham Borough Council and our wider community can make a real difference and make this happen. The tackling poverty strategy .. is focused on making them a reality.
“Wokingham is generally an affluent borough, but can life be harder for those on the lowest incomes, including essential keyworkers, carers and retired residents. Many were living in poverty before Covid-19. The pandemic and cost of living crisis has exacerbated the situation and is hitting our residents who live on lower incomes very hard.
“We also have an increasing number of residents who have been newly pushed into poverty. The situation is only likely to worsen in the short term as interest rates, food and fuel prices continue to rise.”
She pledged to continue the cross-party working group, of which Cllr Blumenthal is a key member, to continue to address the issues and causes of poverty.
Council leader Clive Jones called on the government to do more to help, including reducing the cost of energy and fuel, and cutting VAT to 17.5%. “That would put £600 into the pockets of most families in the country,” he said.
The strategy was passed unanimously.
