Issue - meetings

Briefing note of the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 7 of the meeting held on 13 June 2023 the Committee considered a Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty update of the Head of Health and Wellbeing and Cabinet Member - Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services.

The update provided information on the latest meeting of the Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty (WRAP) Cabinet Member Reference Group and in particular activities associated with:

·       the cost-of-living crisis

·       period poverty – a Sefton update

·       Sefton Youth Making Better Opportunities with Leaders (SYMBOL) report

·       Community pantry update

·       Sefton child poverty strategy

·       Respiratory pilot

·       Sefton Council housing update

·       Warm hubs

·       Emergency limited assistance scheme update

Councillor Lappin, Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services presented her update.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       Period poverty and the removal of VAT on sanitary products

·       In connection with the section in the report relating to Sefton Youth Making Better Opportunities with Leaders (SYMBOL), a comment was made that following SYMBOL representatives’ presentation to Members at the pre-Council briefing held on 16 November 2023, contact was made with the SYMBOL co-ordinator offering advice and suggestions. However, the Member had not received a response   

RESOLVED:  That

(1)      the update on the operation of the Members’ Welfare Reform Reference Group be noted; and

(2)      Councillor Lappin be thanked for her update.