Agenda item

Supporting Sheffielders Through the Cost-of-Living Crisis

Report of the Director of Policy, Performance and Communications

Decision:

9.1

The Director of Policy, Performance and Communications presented the report which set out how the cost-of-living crisis is having profound implications for people across Sheffield and the steps that Sheffield City Council and partners in the public and voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector have taken to provide support and advice to those who are being most impacted.

 

The report proposed that the Council urgently establish a cross-partner incident management approach to the cost-of-living crisis, learning from the strength of our whole city response to Covid-19. This would include the establishment of a strategic response group (‘Gold’), chaired by the Leader of the Council, that will bring together relevant Committee Chairs, SCC officers and representatives from across Sheffield’s public, private and VCF sector. This group would set out and direct Sheffield’s overall response to supporting communities through the cost of living crisis.

 

This ‘Gold’ command group will be supported by a ‘Silver’ (tactical) group who would have responsibility for coordinating planning and activity in support of the overall strategy developed by the Gold group. This group would meet frequently and set out an operational plan to respond to the cost-of-living challenges facing the city.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

1.    Note the work that has been done on a cross-partner basis to date to help the people of Sheffield respond to the cost-of-living crisis, as described at paragraph 7 of the report, including supporting the work of South Yorkshire Community Foundation to establish a new fund to support people with the cost-of-living crisis;

 

2.    Agree to establish an incident response arrangement to help the city respond to the current situation and prepare for the forthcoming autumn and winter period, including the establishment of a strategic-level ‘Gold’ group to be chaired by the Leader of the Council and a ‘Silver’ partner group led by a senior SCC officer;

 

3.    Ask all policy committees at their first meetings to consider nomination of an Elected Member to sit on a cross-party Gold group;

 

4.    Agree that partner organisations should be invited to join the Gold group, recognising that the cost-of-living crisis demands a whole-city response across the public, private and VCF sectors; and

 

5.    Agree to receive a report at its July meeting setting out a proposed strategy and action plan for addressing the cost-of-living crisis in Sheffield, which should include proposals around the utilisation of the Food Action Plan fund established as part of the 2022/23 budget, along with updates on the social isolation and volunteering funds.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

To establish a cross-partner incident management approach to the cost-of-living crisis, learning from the strength of our whole city response to Covid-19.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

To not do anything, this was rejected as through the services and support Sheffield City Council delivers directly and with our partners in the public and VCF sector, we are working alongside the people and communities across the city who are most exposed and suffering the consequences of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

 

 

Minutes:

9.1

The Director of Policy, Performance and Communications presented the report which set out how the cost-of-living crisis is having profound implications for people across Sheffield and the steps that Sheffield City Council and partners in the public and voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector have taken to provide support and advice to those who are being most impacted.

 

The report proposed that the Council urgently establish a cross-partner incident management approach to the cost-of-living crisis, learning from the strength of our whole city response to Covid-19. This would include the establishment of a strategic response group (‘Gold’), chaired by the Leader of the Council, that will bring together relevant Committee Chairs, SCC officers and representatives from across Sheffield’s public, private and VCF sector. This group would set out and direct Sheffield’s overall response to supporting communities through the cost of living crisis.

 

This ‘Gold’ command group will be supported by a ‘Silver’ (tactical) group who would have responsibility for coordinating planning and activity in support of the overall strategy developed by the Gold group. This group would meet frequently and set out an operational plan to respond to the cost-of-living challenges facing the city.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

1.    Note the work that has been done on a cross-partner basis to date to help the people of Sheffield respond to the cost-of-living crisis, as described at paragraph 7 of the report, including supporting the work of South Yorkshire Community Foundation to establish a new fund to support people with the cost-of-living crisis;

 

2.    Agree to establish an incident response arrangement to help the city respond to the current situation and prepare for the forthcoming autumn and winter period, including the establishment of a strategic-level ‘Gold’ group to be chaired by the Leader of the Council and a ‘Silver’ partner group led by a senior SCC officer;

 

3.    Ask all policy committees at their first meetings to consider nomination of an Elected Member to sit on a cross-party Gold group;

 

4.    Agree that partner organisations should be invited to join the Gold group, recognising that the cost-of-living crisis demands a whole-city response across the public, private and VCF sectors; and

 

5.    Agree to receive a report at its July meeting setting out a proposed strategy and action plan for addressing the cost-of-living crisis in Sheffield, which should include proposals around the utilisation of the Food Action Plan fund established as part of the 2022/23 budget, along with updates on the social isolation and volunteering funds.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

To establish a cross-partner incident management approach to the cost-of-living crisis, learning from the strength of our whole city response to Covid-19.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

To not do anything, this was rejected as through the services and support Sheffield City Council delivers directly and with our partners in the public and VCF sector, we are working alongside the people and communities across the city who are most exposed and suffering the consequences of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

 

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Director of Policy, Performance and Communications

 

 

 

Supporting documents: