Cabinet Member: Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/038

Contact: Paul Wilding, Programme Manager

Paul.wilding@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Partnerships

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)   approve the support package for 2025/26, as summarised in table 2;

b)    approve the repurposing £85,000 of funding held in the Emergency Welfare Fund reserve to support the Community Wealth Building programme

c)    delegate authority to the Director for Public Affairs, Policy & Partnerships in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, to approve the deployment of unallocated funds for emerging need, and to amend the programme during the year in response to changing and emerging need, within the overall programme budget

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report setting out the intended approach to support those residents who were most negatively impacted by cost-of-living pressures following the government’s announcement of an extension of the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

The report also provided the latest position on the impact of cost-of-living pressures and set out highlights from the 2024/25 funding programme.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, presented the report.  Councillor Lay highlighted the main elements of the programme including holiday free school meal support, resident support scheme (crisis payments and local district level funding), and advice services. He also congratulated the cost of living team for their nomination for the best small team of the year at the Local Government Chronicle Awards

During discussion, members referred to the government's plan to publish a child poverty strategy later in the year. The importance of protecting those struggling with the cost of living was emphasised.

RECOMMENDED to:-

a)    approve the support package for 2025/26, as summarised in Table 2

b)    approve the repurposing £85,000 of funding held in the Emergency Welfare Fund reserve to support the Community Wealth Building programme

c)    delegate authority to the Director for Public Affairs, Policy & Partnerships in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, to approve the deployment of unallocated funds for emerging need, and to amend the programme during the year in response to changing and emerging need, within the overall programme budget