Agenda item

·  Food Poverty Task & Finish Group

That the recommendations of the Food Poverty Task & Finish Group be welcomed.

The Cabinet accepted recommendations 1,2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 12 and agreed that further work should be carried out to establish how to take forward the other recommendations where there were more significant financial and service implications.

The Cabinet considered reference report from the Neighbourhoods & Community Services (NCS) Scrutiny Panel from 3^rd September 2020 with regard to Food Poverty in Slough.  The panel had established a Task & Finish Group which had produced a comprehensive report and series of recommendations for the Cabinet to consider.

The Chair of the NCS Panel, Councillor Hulme, summarised the Task & Finish Group report and recommendations.  It was recognised that the issue of food poverty in Slough was wide ranging and complex, and would require joint working within the Council and between partner agencies to tackle the problem effectively.  The recommendations were as follows:

1.  “Develop a commitment and a proactive strategy to tackle food poverty in Slough Borough Council.

2.  Create a directory of (and promote) all available services.

3.  Start to monitor household food insecurity.

4.  Coordinate with schools to ensure all children have access to food 365 days a year.

5.  Explore ways to reduce fuel poverty using regulatory tools such as the Housing Act 2004 and through the effective promotion of the various energy company obligation schemes already in operation in Slough.

6.  Increase the capacity of the LWP team and provide customer service training.

7.  Support & develop financial advice services.\

8.  Develop community orchards and plant fruit trees around the borough.

9.  Engage retailers and voluntary groups.

10.Consider more collaboration with probation services.

11.Improve working conditions and opportunities for Slough residents.

12.Organise an annual conference on food poverty.”

The Cabinet welcomed the report and strongly commended the panel and the officers who had supported it for the work that had been undertaken.  Lead Members highlighted that food poverty was rightly an important local priority and there were clear linkages to the work of the Slough Wellbeing Board and emerging future Skills Hubs which aimed to provide job opportunities for residents and help to tackle one of the root causes of food poverty.

Each recommendation was considered in turn and it was recognised that some could be delivered relatively quickly, whereas others with higher cost or a wider impact on Council services would need more detailed consideration.  For example the recommendations relating to local welfare provision and financial advice services could be considered through Phase 2 of the Our Futures programme and Customer Experience Strategy.  Members may decide to use CIF funding to support certain initiatives.

The Cabinet decided that recommendations 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 12 should be agreed and actioned, noting that the specific mechanisms may be revised e.g. the annual conference proposed in recommendation 12 may be better achieved by similar means such as an annual summit.  The other recommendations would require more detailed work to understand the service and financial implications and this should be considered through the Phase 2 Our Futures programme and the budget setting process.  Lead Members asked that an update be provided to the Cabinet on progress of delivery within six months.

Resolved –

(a)  That the recommendations of the Food Poverty Task & Finish Group be welcomed.

(b)  The Cabinet accepted recommendations 1,2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 12 and agreed that further work should be carried out to establish how to take forward the other recommendations where there were more significant financial and service implications.