Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health and the Service Director for Citizen Focus.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the work of the Fair and Inclusive team in the first six months of the programme 1st March – 30th Sept 22.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Julie Jarman by email at: julie.jarman@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Public Health and the Service Director for Citizen Focus submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work of the Fair and Inclusive team in the first six months of the programme from 1 March to 30 September 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The online activity around promoting warm spaces had been supplemented by printed publicity materials which had been distributed widely.

·         It was commented that housing, transport, environment and health had not been included in outcomes framework and that these needed to be addressed as part of any holistic approach to this area of work.  In response it was stated that although this had not been included in the framework, there was still a significant element of work taking place.

·         The work on pension credit outreach was welcomed, however it was noted that this had been funded through a ‘one-off’ pot of money and it was queried how progress in this area could be maintained once the funding had ended.  In response, it was stated that there were approximately, 3000 pensioners who were not claiming what they were entitled, which was a number that would reduce as a result of the work that was taking place.  As a consequence, there would be a smaller number of people to identify in the future which would not be as resource intensive as this pilot work.

·         There remained a stigma amongst some parts of the population against claiming ‘benefits’ or taking what was perceived to be a ‘handout’.  The terminology being used tried to encourage recipients to consider pension credit as an element of the pension to which they were entitled.

·         It was noted that meetings in relation the Stockport Women and Girls network had been held during the day which could be seen to exclude working women.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.