Issue - items at meetings - Response and Recovery Update: Food

Report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee -

(i)             Noted the work happening around the city to provide residents with food and put on record their thanks to all the volunteers and the staff involved;

(ii)            Agreed that as a city Brighton and Hove should continue to take a vouchers/cash first approach supported by food/essential items provision;

(iii)           Noted the ongoing needs of the Emergency Food Sector in para’s 3.17 – 3.50 which currently costs over £0.931m per annum and the unfunded budget of support needs in financial year 2022/23 as laid out in the table 3.51 of £0.302m;

(iv)           Considered Emergency Food needs in future budget setting decisions to prioritise and redirect funding to the ‘Food Cell’ approach. This will develop the mechanism to underpin recovery, renewal and will lead to long-term resilience;

(v)            Agreed the following commitments:

1.     That the annual cost of £3,400 for parking dispensations and staff time to administer the scheme be incorporated in the 2022/23 General Fund Revenue Budget including through the use of one-off resources if necessary.

2.     That the underwriting of a 3-year lease and associated staff to coordinate premises to provide storage and processing space for emergency food (as described in paragraph 3.21 – 3.23) at an annual cost of £65,142 be incorporated in the 2022/23 General Fund Revenue Budget including through the use of one-off resources if necessary.

3.     That options for addressing the remaining funding shortfalls in 2022/23, laid out in the table 3.51, of £233,399 are kept under review as the strategy developments and, if necessary, consideration is given to making allocations to address the shortfall if one-off resources or grant funding become available in 2022/23.

4.     That options for addressing the potential £24,582 funding shortfall for the purchase of food for this Winter 2021/22 are kept under review and allocations from existing resources and/or grants made subject to availability.

(vi)           Requested to instruct Officers to amplify and support a food & essential items donations campaign through the communications team at the council, to bring public attention to this issue, which, if feasible, should include instating donation points at Brighton & Hove City Council public buildings;

(vii)           Instructed officers to commission an exploratory piece of work to look at strengthening organisations supporting Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee & Asylum Seekers to provide food access, by working together and providing staff capacity and reporting back to the appropriate committee;

(viii)        Instructed officers to undertake further work to explore the need for financial help with meals, including reviewing the provision and cost of community meals, potentially as part of direct payment arrangements, and report back to the Adult Social Care Sub Committee after consultation with groups who represent disabled people.

18.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Economy Environment & Culture which updated members on the work that is being done around provision of food during COVID-19, in terms of emergency provision and consideration of a longer-term strategic approach to food. The report was introduced by the Assistant Director City Development & Regeneration and the Food Policy Co-ordinator.

18.2    Councillor Clare referred to emergency food provision and noted that the demand was expected to increase when both furlough and the £20 Universal Credit uplift ended and asked if that had happened. Officers advised that an increase had been noticed, but they would know more by the end of the month.

18.3    Councillor Allcock asked if the food banks were able to cater for different groups who may have certain dietary requirements due to cultural, religious or dietary needs. Officers confirmed that there were a number of food banks who did that, and the Council liaised with them to ensure that an appropriate range of food was available.

18.4    The Chair noted that there was an amendment to the report from the Labour Group and asked Councillor Appich to propose the amendment (as set out in Addendum 1). Councillor Appich proposed the amendment and Councillor Allcock formally seconded it.

18.5    Councillor Clare said that the Green Group were happy to support the amendment but said that direct payments was something which people who represented disabled in the city raised with the authority, and whilst the intention was to consult with them it would be good to have that confirmed in writing and therefore proposed an additional amendment to recommendation 2.8 to add “after consultation with groups who represent disabled people”. Councillor Appich agreed, and Councillor Allcock formally seconded that amendment.

18.6    The Sub-Committee voted on the amendments and they were agreed.

18.7    RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee -

(i)             Noted the work happening around the city to provide residents with food and put on record their thanks to all the volunteers and the staff involved;

(ii)            Agreed that as a city Brighton and Hove should continue to take a vouchers/cash first approach supported by food/essential items provision;

(iii)          Noted the ongoing needs of the Emergency Food Sector in para’s 3.17 – 3.50 which currently costs over £0.931m per annum and the unfunded budget of support needs in financial year 2022/23 as laid out in the table 3.51 of £0.302m;

(iv)          Considered Emergency Food needs in future budget setting decisions to prioritise and redirect funding to the ‘Food Cell’ approach. This will develop the mechanism to underpin recovery, renewal and will lead to long-term resilience;

(v)           Agreed the following commitments:

1.    That the annual cost of £3,400 for parking dispensations and staff time to administer the scheme be incorporated in the 2022/23 General Fund Revenue Budget including through the use of one-off resources if necessary.

2.    That the underwriting of a 3-year lease and associated staff to coordinate premises to provide storage and processing space for emergency food (as described in paragraph 3.21 – 3.23) at an annual cost of £65,142 be incorporated in the 2022/23 General Fund Revenue Budget including through the use of one-off resources if necessary.

3.    That options for addressing the remaining funding shortfalls in 2022/23, laid out in the table 3.51, of £233,399 are kept under review as the strategy developments and, if necessary, consideration is given to making allocations to address the shortfall if one-off resources or grant funding become available in 2022/23.

4.    That options for addressing the potential £24,582 funding shortfall for the purchase of food for this Winter 2021/22 are kept under review and allocations from existing resources and/or grants made subject to availability.

(vi)          Requested to instruct Officers to amplify and support a food & essential items donations campaign through the communications team at the council, to bring public attention to this issue, which, if feasible, should include instating donation points at Brighton & Hove City Council public buildings;

(vii)          Instructed officers to commission an exploratory piece of work to look at strengthening organisations supporting Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee & Asylum Seekers to provide food access, by working together and providing staff capacity and reporting back to the appropriate committee;

(viii)       Instructed officers to undertake further work to explore the need for financial help with meals, including reviewing the provision and cost of community meals, potentially as part of direct payment arrangements, and report back to the Adult Social Care Sub Committee after consultation with groups who represent disabled people.