Cabinet rubber stamps £250k to help tackle cost of living crisis
Councillors at Eastbourne Borough Council have given the green light to a £250,000 emergency cost of living fund.
Some £20,000 has already been paid out to the Eastbourne Foodbank to ensure the availability of food for those in immediate need.
Councillor David Tutt (pictured), Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “Many people across the UK, including Eastbourne, are in very real and urgent need.
“We cannot solve this crisis on our own but by committing this new funding it will help alleviate some of the hardship local people are facing.
“Let us not forget that with even greater increases in energy costs in the autumn, household bills will increase to levels that are unprecedented and deeply worrying for us all.”
Read the full story here
|
The implementation of ‘rapid and targeted’ measures to tackle the devastating impact of the pandemic on council finances, has brought about an immediate return to financial stability and a balanced budget.
At Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, councillors were told that despite losing millions in income during each lockdown and shouldering soaring costs associated with support for the most vulnerable in Eastbourne, the council has reduced an emergency borrowing requirement by £5.7 million.
The pandemic left many councils in the UK in an exposed financial position and calling on government for extra support as usual income streams dried up overnight and unplanned costs rocketed.
In a move applauded by government officials, Eastbourne quickly established a recovery and stabilisation programme to identify savings and efficiencies to offset the acute pressures on the budget.
Read the full story here
Council creates 288 new homes across Eastbourne
A Cabinet councillor welcomed the progress of 288 new council homes being developed across Eastbourne in the face of ‘very challenging conditions’.
This figure is a combination of completed homes, acquisitions, schemes in construction, projects at the pre-build stage and others being planned.
All homes are made as sustainable as possible, with modern methods of construction favoured such as modular, using new renewable technologies, and a focus on insulation, heating and cooling.
Among them is a scheme for 100 new homes at Bedfordwell Road which is now at the ‘shovel ready’ stage.
Councillor Alan Shuttleworth (pictured), Cabinet Member for Direct Assistance Services, said: “This is a major development that will provide many homes for people in Eastbourne who desperately need them. The scheme is ready to go ahead, however we are awaiting expected government funding through the Affordable Homes Programme and brownfield funding announced in the Levelling Up White Paper.
“I am proud of the progress we are making to deliver new council homes, such as the fantastic new modular homes completed at The Foundry in Langney Road, despite very challenging conditions in the construction industry."
Read the full story here
|
Cabinet councillors have agreed a new strategy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Eastbourne.
The five-year plan aims to reduce homelessness by taking preventative actions, by intervening effectively when it occurs and by using sustainable solutions for re-housing and support.
Councillor Alan Shuttleworth, Cabinet member for Direct Assistance Services, said: “This strategy provides an excellent framework for our continued work to combat homelessness.
“It contains a series of strong initiatives such as the creation of a dedicated ‘prevention hub’ to co-ordinate the work of council teams, local voluntary and agency partners, and a review of temporary accommodation provision to enhance the supply of a good quality, value for money, portfolio.”
A review undertaken earlier this year shows demand continues to be high and is likely to remain so, with around 1,400 households raising enquiries with the council’s housing needs team in each of the past two years.
Read the full story here
|
