Issue - meetings

The Lead Councillor for Community and Housing introduced the item, praised the Community Services staff and outlined the report submitted to the Committee meeting.  This summary included the Lead Councillor for Community and Housing advising the Committee of the prioritised work streams for 2021 around food poverty and insecurity.

Members of the Committee questioned how community spaces were identified for the community fridges funded by Guildford Philanthropy.  The Head of Community Services indicated that community groups able to look after a community fridge and organise donations would be supported by the Council and Guildford Philanthropy but the Council could not run the scheme.  In reply, a member of the Committee noted that the Council did organise the community fridge at The Hive and suggested other areas of the Borough with equal need were being overlooked.  The Head of Community Services advised the meeting that the Community Services team was unable to resource the running of community fridges across the Borough but could help support voluntary groups wanting to become involved in such a scheme.  The Head of Community Services undertook to provide councillors with details of the commitment and other criteria involved in establishing a community fridge site.

With reference to both the amount of food parcels distributed in Guildford town centre and the number of food-related businesses, a member of the Committee suggested the suitability of a town centre community fridge.  In response, the Head of Community Services advised the meeting of action to support vulnerable residents in the town centre during the pandemic. 

The Head of Community Services agreed that the Council would be better prepared for any future lockdowns.  She indicated that data and referrals about families entitled to free school meals were issues to be resolved.  In reply to a question, the Head of Community Services confirmed that she hoped mobile Thrive at the Hive hubs would be created by the end of 2021.

In answer to questions from a Committee member, the Head of Community Services confirmed that local supermarkets, shops, and food wholesalers supported food poverty and insecurity initiatives in the Borough.  In addition, the meeting was advised of government Covid recovery funding and grants received locally and the likelihood of central government funding to address food poverty and insecurity in future. 

A member of the Committee questioned why the Council had not become an accredited Real Living Wage employer, particularly its the decision not to pay Real Living Wage rates to some play development staff.  In addition, the meeting was reminded that contractors Freedom Leisure and HQT at G-Live did not pay the Real Living Wage.  In response, the Head of Community Services indicated that the implications of introducing the Real Living Wage for casual play development staff would be explored as part of review of service provision.  The Head of Community Services advised the meeting that a decision about Real Living Wage accreditation would be informed by the impacts on both contractors and Council services.

In reply to a question about identifying  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14