Agenda item

This report provides an update on progress, key achievements to date and presents a draft food poverty action plan for comment.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager introduced the report to the Panel. She informed them that the B&NES Food Poverty Steering group had met three times to date with its first meeting on 25^th March 2020. She explained that as its inaugural meeting was at the start of the government lockdown period in response to the coronavirus pandemic the main focus was on understanding the challenges emerging for residents in relation to immediate food needs and provision of welfare support.

She added that the Steering Group has provided a network for members to share information, co-ordinate activity and both offer and request support in adapting to a rapidly changing situation and growing demand locally.

She said that the Steering Group had agreed its Terms of Reference and a framework for structuring planning and action on food poverty locally.

She added that discussions have taken place with Steering Group members around specific themes outlined in the framework including identity and structure of the group, food for all priorities and barriers to income. She said that it has been agreed that ownership for delivery of these actions is led by three task groups;

·  Income Maximisation

·  Food for All

·  Hear My Voice

She stated that these task groups will guide and develop the work and report back to the steering group at each meeting on progress, challenges and support needs.

She informed the Panel that the key areas around Data and Communications will be co-ordinated by Public Health in the short term with support from Steering Group members.

She explained that members of the Steering Group, our colleagues in the Compassionate Communities Hub and local charities and community groups have seen significant increases in demand for support with food and income related issues over the last 3 months.

She said that Council welfare support team received 956 applications for financial assistance from April to mid-June and 580 awards were approved. Grants totalling £43,000 have been awarded of which £11,000 was for food and £32,000 on essential household provisions.

She added that St John’s Foundation have awarded 366 grants since January 2020 as part of their individual funding programme, totalling £204,000.

She stated that the Council welcomed the Government’s decision to fund free school meal provision throughout the upcoming school summer holiday period.

The Chairman commented that when the Panel began to work on this issue it seemed ambitious, but congratulated those involved for the great work that had been done so far.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked what is going to happen next, to fill in the remainder of the Action Plan.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that the Steering Group will continue to meet on a quarterly basis with most of the remaining work being undertaken by task groups on specific themes. She added that these task groups will then report back to the Steering Group.

Councillor Jackson asked where the Action Plan states Review the cap on welfare support provision and criteria for support to meet increasing demand/better meet need is this about local welfare support, and do we have the resource to meet increased demand.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that there is a cap on the number of requests and that there is a grant of £143,000 to be spent this financial year.

Councillor Jackson asked how the Steering Group will capture evidence from those people who have experienced food poverty.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that they were already engaged with Curo and the local Children’s Centres on this matter and will consult bodies such as the Feeding Britain Network and Sustain to attempt to gather people’s personal experiences.

Kevin Burnett asked if local religious groups could be allowed to become involved in the work of the Steering Group.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that she would welcome any representation from such groups.

Kevin Burnett asked if the Steering Group had used social media much during their work so far to make the public aware of the support available.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that the process for a Communications Plan had begun and that as many avenues as possible should be used.

Councillor Jackson commented that she could help with contact details for local religious groups as she was a member of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education).

Councillor Ruth Malloy thanked the officers for their work on this project and the report supplied. She said that the Steering Group meetings have been very good and that the timing of when this work began has really helped over the past few months when the focus has been on emergency help.

Councillor Jess David said that the decision to fund free school meals over the summer holiday period was vital. She added that she hoped that free fruit and vegetable snacks would continue at schools for those that are eligible.

Councillor Rob Appleyard said that he welcomed the work that had been carried out and that the Council would provide resources where it could as this was an important issue to them.

The Panel RESOLVED to welcome and note the Draft Food Poverty Action Plan 2020/2021.