Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee support the ongoing work to manage the impacts that welfare reform has, and would continue to have, on some of the most vulnerable residents;

(b)       That the support measures implemented via Welsh Government to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis be noted; and

(c)       That the Committee write to Welsh Government to request that, at a national level, they encourage parents to continue to apply for Free School Meals.

The Service Manager (Housing, Welfare and Communities) introduced a report to provide a combined operational update on the latest welfare response impacts, and the cost-of-living schemes to support residents.

The report provided an update on the impact that welfare reforms continued to have on Flintshire residents and the ongoing work to mitigate this, and support households affected.  Vulnerable households were now also being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and the report provided information around a range of measures implemented to help those affected by the cost-of-living crisis and the support provided to residents to help mitigate these negative impacts.

The Service Manager provided a detailed update on the following areas outlined within the report:-

·         Spare Room Subsidy

·         Impact in Flintshire

·         Benefit Cap

·         Impact in Flintshire

·         Energy Bills Support Scheme – Alternative Fund (EBSS-AF)

·         Alternative Fuel Payment – Alternative Fund (AFP-AF)

·         Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) and Eligibility Free

School Meals (eFSM)

·         School Essentials Grant (Uniform Grants)

·         Welfare Support

·         Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP’s)

·         Future Changes

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin commented on the difficulties around getting parents to sign up for the schemes and asked if there was any information that could be provided to parents to inform them if they applied for certain financial support that they could also apply for other financial support.  The Service Manager advised that the Council would continue to work with schools to promote the UPFSM.

            Following a request that the information contained within the report be circulated to all Members for information, it was suggested that an information flyer be produced and circulated to all Members of the Council. 

            Following further comments around encouraging parents to apply for UPFSM, it was suggested that a letter be sent to Welsh Government (WG) to request at a national level they encourage parents to continue to apply for Free School Meals.

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, including an additional recommendation that the Committee write to the WG to request that, at a national level, they encourage parents to continue to apply for Free School Melas, were moved by Councillor Ted Palmer and seconded by Councillor David Evans.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support the ongoing work to manage the impacts that welfare reform has, and would continue to have, on some of the most vulnerable residents.

(b)       That the support measures implemented via Welsh Government to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis be noted; and

(c)       That the Committee write to Welsh Government to request that, at a national level, they encourage parents to continue to apply for Free School Meals.