Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Depute Convener intimated that this meeting of the Sub-committee would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.

There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a number of recent developments in the cost-of-living crisis.

The report highlighted a number of key themes including the falling rate of both general inflation and food inflation although both rates remained high; the increase in Bank of England interest rates to 5.25% and the impact of this upon various sectors; and the reduction in the Energy Price Cap.

The report intimated that the Trussell Trust had published its ‘Hunger in Scotland’ report and Fair4All Finance published their ‘As one door closes’ report on illegal money lending in June and that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation updated their ‘Poverty in Scotland’ survey for spring 2023 in May. These reports offered evidence relative to the cost-of-living crisis for those with low incomes in Scotland.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to key projects being progressed through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, highlighting key priorities which would be the focus of activity between September and December 2023.

The report provided an update on ongoing projects which was set out in Section 4 of the report, highlighting the work of advice services in Renfrewshire; progress on the Fair Food Renfrewshire Programme; the availability of further funding within the Community Food Fund; and the approval of the Local Child Poverty Action Report by the meeting of the Leadership Board held on 14 June 2023.  

The key activities highlighted in the report included progressing a ‘deep dive’ data exercise around child poverty as a Community Planning Partnership, focussing on the six priority family groups; developing the Fair Food Renfrewshire partnership, using the Sustainable Food Places toolkit and hosting a meeting of the recently established steering group; continuing the evaluation of projects within Tackling Poverty Programme and exploring future options with services around required priorities going forward; launching this year’s Winter Connections programme; and  the  development of the poverty and participation test of change, working alongside the newly
established lived experience panel to develop recommendations and the shape of future work.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

The Strategic Partnership and Inequalities Manager gave a presentation on the summer holiday activity and food programme. She provided background to the establishment of the programme; detailed the feedback received from the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel; highlighted the principles underpinning the 2023 summer programme together with the engagement and participation levels of the 2023 programme; detailed the 17 projects funded through the £55,000 Summer of Fun grants programme; and highlighted the input from Future Paisley.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.