Helping with the Cost of Living Crisis

Mayor Dave Hodgson's monthy Bedford Independent Column has been published. You can read it at https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/monthly-column-helping-with-the-cost-of-living-crisis/ or below:

Helping with the Cost of Living Crisis

The cost of living crisis continues to get worse with inflation and the cost of energy at record highs. Interest rates and mortgage payments have increased leading to many residents worrying about how they will pay for the basics.

I have been running a Cost of Living Survey, which residents can still take part in at www.BedfordLibDems.org.uk/Cost

50% of respondents say they are already suffering from the Cost of Living Crisis with another 31% fear they will be affected by rises in the cost of living. 49% say they either cannot pay their energy bills now or can only do so by cutting back on other spending. 76% of drivers say they are using their car less due to the cost of petrol.

49% of small business owners say they are facing a significant impact on their business, with a further 28% expecting a moderate impact on orders and running costs. 34% of small business owners expect to have to close.

We have been looking at ways the Council can help residents, either directly or indirectly, during this cost of living crisis. Some of the actions we are taking include:

• Funding a Citizen's Advice full-time energy and debt advisor for two years.
• Providing a grant to Bedford Foodbank so that they can expand their operation and provide further support to vulnerable residents.
• Working in partnership with local organisations to develop a Warm Spaces network where residents can come for warmth and company.
• Providing low energy lightbulbs for residents to enable them to keep the lights on at a much lowest cost.
• Giving out Household Support Grants to residents receiving Council Tax support and providing free school meal vouchers during the school holidays.
• Delivering the Sustainable Warmth scheme to fund energy efficient home solutions for low income households.
• Delivering the Warm Homes scheme to protect residents with health risks connected with being in cold homes.

For more information about how the Council are helping please visit https://www.bedford.gov.uk/CostOfLiving

The Warm Spaces Network is now live and there are a number of locations across the Borough that people can go to keep warm as we enter the colder months. The Warm Spaces Network currently includes libraries, church halls and community centres. As more venues join the initiative, they will be added to the directory. You can find a list of Warm Spaces at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/warm-spaces

The council is contacting parish councils and community and voluntary groups across the borough asking if they would like to join the network. If you have a venue that could be used as a warm space and would be interested in taking part, please email public.health@bedford.gov.uk to find out more.

I recently met with the Council's Health and Wellbeing Champion Network which includes residents, partner organisations from public services, the voluntary, community and housing sectors for a Cost of Living Crisis information sharing session The Health and Wellbeing Champions will work with the council and local NHS partners to share accurate and reliable health and wellbeing information with people in their local communities. You can find out more about the Health and Welling Champion Network and how to join by emailing healthchampions@bedford.gov.uk