Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members were requested to intimate any Declarations of Interest or Transparency Statements in respect of the items on the agenda.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)      to note that the Convener advised that he had a connection in relation to all of the Committee Business agenda items but in particular 9.4 (Report on the Anti-Poverty & Inequality Committee visit to CFINE) as he was a Council appointed representative to Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) Board, Aberdeen Foyer and Fairer Aberdeen Fund Board and Chair of the Granite City Good Food Steering Group, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connections amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items; and

(ii)    to note that Councillor Brooks advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.4 as he was founder and Chairman of the TLC Charity which was part of the Trussell Trust family of food banks however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items.

The Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 8 March 2023.

In respect of Article 6(ii) (Child Poverty Action Plan Update report), Members noted that information regarding the Data Observatory had been circulated and were advised that this data was live.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to instruct the Director – Customer Services, to issue a Service Update in respect of the joint funding collaboration between Aberdeen City Council and the universities to provide information on any research into the Cost of Living and impact on health specifically, through the Health Determinants Research Collaboration; and

(ii)            to otherwise approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the planner of committee business, as prepared by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance (Assurance).

The Committee resolved:-

to note the Planner.

The Committee had before it an update report prepared by the Locality Inclusion Manager on the outcomes achieved from the allocation of Cost of Living Funding, the provision of Warm Spaces and support for communities visiting them, and any additional resources from the Scottish or UK Governments.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the progress in delivery of the outcomes from the Cost of Living Funding.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to instruct the Locality Inclusion Manager to bring back a report to Committee regarding the review and uptake of the Family Wellbeing Fund;

(ii)            to instruct the Locality Inclusion Manager to circulate a Service Update in respect of food waste, including information on local supermarkets’ arrangements and feedback from organisations on the current situation through Food Poverty Aberdeen; and

(iii)          to otherwise note the information provided.

The Committee had before it a report by the Locality Inclusion Manager regarding ongoing initiatives in relation to food security and fuel poverty and on funded programmes.

The report recommended:

that the Committee note the update on food security and fuel poverty, and that funded programmes were reported through the report on Supporting People through the Cost of Living Crisis.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to instruct the Director – Customer Services to report to Committee on 21 June 2023 in respect of the energy price guarantee and any associated future initiatives;

(ii)            to instruct the Revenues and Benefit Manager to undertake additional promotion of the Energy Support Scheme and to provide a Service Update on the actions taken in this regard and the uptake of the scheme; and

(iii)          to otherwise note the information provided.

he Committee had before it a report by the External Advisers outlining the agreed ways of working and commitments.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the proposed ways of working with the External Advisers.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that the next Committee visit would be to Catalyst Vineyard Church following the Committee meeting on 21 June 2023; and

(ii)            to otherwise note the information provided.

The Committee had before it a report prepared by CFINE following the Committee visit there on 8 March 2023.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)    note the information provided following the visit to CFINE; and

(b)    thank all those at CFINE, including the many volunteers, who welcomed the Committee and provided an informative and interesting afternoon.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to instruct the Locality Inclusion Manager to circulate a Service Update in respect of the information held on the Council’s website regarding locations for emergency food;

(ii)            to instruct the Director – Customer Services to work with the External Advisers to identify organisations, including CFINE, for a wider group of Elected Members to visit;

(iii)          to note that the External Advisers would bring a report to a future Committee in respect of suggestions for supporting to bring people out of poverty; and

(iv)          to otherwise approve the recommendations.

-         COUNCILLOR CHRISTIAN ALLARD, Convener.

There was no Urgent Business.

There was no Exempt Business.