Leader pledges to continue to support residents as the cost of living continues to rise
Monday, 25 July 2022
Councillor Richard Wenham, sets out his continued commitment to helping residents cope with the rising cost of living.
At a meeting of Council on Thursday (21 July), Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Councillor Richard Wenham, set out his continued commitment to helping residents cope with the rising cost of living, and as part of this, announced extra funding for councillors to support their communities.
We're already providing support to thousands of residents in need. Since April, over 7,000 households with children eligible for free school meals have been provided with supermarket vouchers for food costs during school holidays and over 5,000 older people have also received financial support.
At the meeting, Councillor Wenham was committed to doing more to help residents and he recognised the important role voluntary and community groups play in supporting people. We're provided additional funding to local Citizens Advice and foodbanks but he was keen to explore further support that could be provided.
He said:
Household budgets are being squeezed more and more. We know more families are going to find it harder and harder to make ends meet as the increases are predicted to continue.
The rising cost of living is a key concern for our residents and businesses and is therefore a key concern for us too. We are looking at more options to help residents and I am also expanding individual councillor grants, as we did during the pandemic, so that Ward Members can support their communities directly. Local councillors know their area best and are well placed to spend the money where it will make the most difference.
Each year, as part of the Ward Councillor Grant Scheme, councillors are given £2,000 which they can allocate to groups in their area which aim to improve the lives of local people.
The Leader is extending the existing Ward Councillor Grant Scheme and allocating an additional £1,000 to each councillor to enable them to support local groups that are providing support to their communities. Unlike the existing scheme, bids for the additional funds do not require match funding.