Council aiming to offer further support amid the cost-of-living crisis

The cost of living crisis is a worry for so many people at the moment, especially as we approach the colder winter months.

A number of support packages have been announced by the Government in recent weeks, including the energy cap and energy bill discount which came into effect during October as well as the Cost of Living Payment and Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners.

Here at the council, we too have an important role in supporting residents during this difficult time.

We have already distributed two tranches of the Household Support Fund, which is delivered by local authorities across the country to help people struggling with rising living costs.

As a result, thousands of Swindon residents have benefitted from food via local charities, food vouchers, and also other vouchers and help with their energy payments

The Fund also supports other measures such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and the council's Emergency Assistance Fund.

An extra £1.5m from the Household Support Fund has also been made available to help Swindon residents and, at the time I’m writing this, details of how this will be administered are being worked through.

At the last full council meeting, councillors were united in agreeing to declare a cost of living crisis and to ask the Government to do all within its power to further support households.

This included asking the council’s finance team to investigate if invoices from small and medium-sized enterprises could be paid within seven days and how the council could encourage other large local businesses to do the same.

I will also be writing to the Prime Minister urging the Government to look at what further support can be provided to families including guaranteeing the Bus Recovery Grant so bus companies can provide a wider service enabling residents to have a viable public transport alternative to using their cars.

We also want to see children’s nurseries exempt from business rates and for the Government to provide extra funding to councils due to the pressures being placed on our finances by rising inflation.

My Cabinet colleague, Cllr Cathy Martyn, is also going to set up a ‘Feeding Swindon Partnership’ based around the provision of low cost or free food within local communities

This will also include signposting people who need it to mental health provision, help with debt prevention, help with debt management, benefits entitlement, cooking classes and things like housing options.

We are continuing to try to help all our residents through our ongoing Cost of Living Campaign by sharing advice on how people can reduce their energy usage and therefore the cost of their bills.

If you can spare a few minutes I would encourage you to visit our website where more information and advice from the campaign is available: www.swindon.gov.uk/costofliving

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