Agenda item

The Leader presented the report and informed colleagues on the progress to date.  It was over a year since the UK left the European Union and Single Market. 

Throughout the year we continued to see widespread impacts not only from leaving the EU but also due to the global impacts of Covid as economies have seen increased demands and supplies have been disrupted.

The cost of living for households in Newport and Wales increased throughout the year with wages struggling to meet these additional costs. 

For low-income households, these increases had the biggest impact with energy prices expected to increase further in 2022.

As reported in the Covid Recovery Cabinet Report, the Council, Welsh Government and other not for profit / charities offered households financial support during this difficult time as well as offering to provide debt advice, training, and employment opportunities. 

Newport Council continued to administer grants and financial support to households and businesses in the City.

·        This included processing over 7,000 applications for Winter Fuel applications and paying the grant to 6,253 households

·        For businesses, Non-Domestic Rates grants have been paid to 510 businesses totalling £1.3m.

It was important for households that were eligible for the grant to apply and provide support to their energy costs during this difficult time. 

Also, for Businesses in Newport it was important to apply for the Non-Domestic Rate grant and also to visit our website and Business Wales to see what financial support and advice was provided.

For the City’s EU / EAA citizens living in Newport, over 10,000 applications for settled status have been concluded with 920 applications awaiting a decision (based on Home Office figures to September 2021).

Cabinet reiterated its support for EU/EAA citizens living and working in Newport and that they all had a part to play in making Newport a great city to live and work in. 

This Cabinet encouraged anyone still awaiting a decision or having difficulties to conclude their application to contact the Council and other organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau. 

Newport Council and its partners continued to engage and involve residents from the EU.  Feedback from these events was important for us to understand how we could continue to support our citizens.

It was encouraging to see that 85% of EU citizens that attended the events felts happy living in Newport but we Cabinet was aware of the ongoing challenges they faced to ensure that Newport remained a safe and welcoming city.

The Council continued to see an increase in the number of EU and non-EU nationals needing support from Council services but did not have any recourse to public funds. 

The Council’s Hardship solutions group were coordinating the effort by the Council and not for profit services to support those impacted and try to prevent exploitation of those affected. 

Comments from Cabinet Members:

§  Councillor Harvey asked that those residents who had not applied for assistance, to contact their ward councillors who would help them apply for grants as outlined by the Leader.

§  Councillor Davies advised that Newport had felt the impact the loss of EU workers had across the health and care profession, which was causing problems with recruitment.  An initiative was recently launched to provide day work experience to consider qualifications and a bespoke work plan for those considering joining the profession. The Cabinet Member did however stress that Newport still needed EU workers.

§  Councillor Cockeram agreed with the comments from Cllr Davies and added that care workers were desperately needed.

Decision:

Cabinet considered and noted the contents of the report and for Cabinet / Cabinet Members to receive updates from officers as part of their portfolio.