Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meetings of the Poverty Reduction Policy Development Committee were approved as correct records.

Approved.

Anthony Richards, Poverty and Prevention Strategy and Development Manager presented a report which sought to adopt an overall policy which embedded the promotion of affordable credit.

It was outlined that a draft of the Promoting Affordable Credit Policy, attached at Appendix A, was presented to Corporate Management Team on the 4 November 2020 where it was agreed that the development of the policy could progress to public consultation, prior to it progressing and being adopted as policy. 

The Draft Promoting Affordable Credit Policy Public Consultation launched on the 26 April 2021 and ran for a period of four weeks, closing on the 23 May 2021.  The consultation was promoted to the members of the Swansea Poverty Partnership Forum, Financial Inclusion Steering Group and Swansea Food Poverty Network and a list of members of these groups was provided at Appendix B.

The report provided a summary of the consultation findings and it was noted that a total of five responses were received, three of which were from third-sector organisations.  It was added that all respondents had read the draft policy and a full summary of the consultation findings was included at Appendix C.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·       The low number of consultation responses received compared to the number of organisations contacted;

·       The IIA Screening / Full IIA / report process to follow if the recommendations were approved by the Committee and the timescales involved;

·       Asking those organisations that were consulted why they had not responded;

·       The draft report making issues more difficult than they are in reality.

Councillor L V Walton thanked Councillor M Sherwood, the previous Chair of the Committee for her work on the draft policy.

Resolved that: -

1)    further work be undertaken to scope the implications of the draft policy with Credit Unions;

2)    further work be undertaken to explore the barriers to accessing affordable credit and identify a range of affordable credit options;

3)    IIA Screening / Full IIA be carried out;

4)    the draft policy report be presented to the Committee prior to being forwarded to Cabinet for approval.

Noted.

The Chair provided the Committee Work Plan report for 2021-2022.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·       Green Fairness Policy;

·       Corporate Debt Policy;

·       Working to Prosperity: Tackling Poverty Strategy;

·       Garden Sharing / Community Food Growing Policy;

·       Social Care Financial Guidance;

·       Swansea Poverty Truth Commission;

·       Campaign to Increase Benefits Take-up.

Resolved that: -

1)    The Chair, Vice-Chair and Joanne Portwood, Strategy & Policy Officer meet with Martin Nicholls, Director of Place to discuss the Green Fairness Policy and report back to Committee in August / September 2021;

2)    The Poverty and Prevention Strategy and Development Manager presents a report to the Committee meeting scheduled for 26 July 2021 outlining the principles of the Corporate Debt Policy prior to engagement / development of the policy;

3)    The current Tackling Poverty Strategy be circulated to the Committee and the outline / vision be reported to the Committee for review;

4)    The Chair, Vice-Chair and Joanne Portwood, Strategy & Policy Officer meet with Martin Nicholls, Director of Place to discuss progressing Garden Sharing and the principles of a Community Food Growing Policy;

5)    A report regarding Social Care Financial Guidance be reported to the Committee;

6)    The Committee be updated on progress regarding the Swansea Poverty Truth Commission in autumn 2021;

7)    Jane Storer, Senior Welfare Rights Advisor be requested to present an update on the Campaign to Increase Benefits Take-up at the Committee meeting scheduled for 26 July 2021, subject to her availability.