Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

RESOLVED

(1)             To develop a Community Outreach Service for residents of North East Derbyshire District Council.

(2)             To create two Community Outreach Worker posts, as 2 year fixed term contracts at Grade 7. Should recruitment be unsuccessful, then one or both posts may be delivered by an external provider via contract. Posts to be fully funded by the Better Care Fund (BCF) allocation.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To provide a response to the national cost of living crisis which is within the remit of Local Authority functions, to make use of available funding to deliver positive outcomes against shared housing and public health priorities, and to complement existing Local Authority services and provide a wider range of interventions, additional to signposting alone.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Whilst to do nothing is clearly an option, the reason for rejection is that there is an existing service to build upon, with available funding to support a temporary service provision. The establishment of a service with permanent funding has been rejected due to the growth in establishment costs and the revenue implications.

Please note that this is not a Key Decision so can be implemented by Officers with immediate effect.

Cabinet considered a report setting out proposals to develop a Community Outreach Service in response to the cost of living crisis, which would aim to deliver individual support to residents to maximise income, make referrals for debt management, and assist with fuel debt, general budgeting and form filling.

Cabinet discussed the report. Members fully supported the recommendations and felt the proposed service would be vital at a time when many residents were struggling financially, such as pensioners and people collecting benefits. In this context, Members requested that Communications officers should attempt to target the residents most in need with publicity about the service.

RESOLVED

(1)      To develop a Community Outreach Service for residents of North East Derbyshire District Council.

(2)      To create two Community Outreach Worker posts, as 2 year fixed term contracts at Grade 7. Should recruitment be unsuccessful, then one or both posts may be delivered by an external provider via contract. Posts to be fully funded by the Better Care Fund (BCF) allocation.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To provide a response to the national cost of living crisis which is within the remit of Local Authority functions, to make use of available funding to deliver positive outcomes against shared housing and public health priorities, and to complement existing Local Authority services and provide a wider range of interventions, additional to signposting alone.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - The establishment of a service with permanent funding has been rejected due to the growth in establishment costs and the revenue implications.