Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To seek approval for the council's warm hub proposal.
Due to the urgent timescales and the current cost of living crisis there is a need to implement prior to any severe weather/winter period, the Chief Executive (as Head of Paid Service) has agreed that the decision should be protected from call-in under Call-in Procedure Rules within the Constitution
RESOLVED
That the Cabinet:
a) approves the proposal for the Council’s warm hub provision as detailed within report CH/198.
b) delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes and Head of Community Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council to approve changes to the supply of Council warm hub provision.
(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation)
c) delegates authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Head of Crawley Homes and Head of Community Services to approve funding to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to deliver warm space provision and associated cost of living requirements from existing cost of living budgets and reserves.
(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation)
d) delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, Head of Community Services in consultation with the Head of Governance, People and Performance, to negotiate, approve and complete all relevant documentation including legal requirements.
(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)
Reasons for the Recommendations
With the rising cost of living there is concern that residents will struggle to heat their homes, although this is only one of many areas of concern in relation to the current economic climate. Households are facing unprecedented challenges including increasing difficulties in paying household bills, housing costs, increasing borrowing and use of credit, less access to food and ability to save.
The concept of warm hubs is to provide a space to residents who cannot afford to heat their homes; the warm hub is available to them as a space to spend time, at no cost with heating.
The idea of warm hubs has taken off across the country with delivery by local authorities and the VCS. We have completed a mapping exercise for Crawley and the VCS are already mobilising with warm hub type provision and so our model is to ensure there is a minimum provision available in the borough, as well as complementing existing and emerging provision to ensure coverage across a range of neighbourhoods, particularly the most deprived.
Council warm hubs will not just be a place where residents can spend time in a heated location, residents will also have access to hot drinks (at no cost) and will be able to receive basic signposting advice on cost of living and well-being by council staff and/or VCS staff. Where possible will also aim to provide a snack, although this will be subject to demand (Crawley Homes contractors, Mears and Wates, are set to donate non-perishable snacks to the hubs).
Over the longer term the Council will work with the VCS to explore options for additional wrap around support at council hubs and/or move to a co-delivery model where the VCS take the lead with support from us.
Report author: Amanda Kendall
Publication date: 24/11/2022
Date of decision: 23/11/2022
Decided at meeting: 23/11/2022 - Cabinet
Effective from: 30/11/2022
Accompanying Documents: