County Spotlight - Cost Of Living Crisis
This County Spotlight report was released when inflation was at a 40-year high, and focused on the work that our members were carrying out to respond to the cost-of-living crisis.
This County Spotlight report was released when inflation was at a 40-year high, and focused on the work that our members were carrying out to respond to the cost-of-living crisis.
With inflation, energy costs and food prices rising sharply, counties have seen significant increases in demand for support, from more Universal Credit claimants to higher use of welfare services.
County authorities - having built strong support mechanisms during the pandemic - are uniquely positioned to distribute aid swiftly and effectively, as the report shows over 18 best practice case studies from the County Councils Network membership.
These schemes go to the heart of local communities: setting up community pantries, targeting support to the most economically vulnerable, setting up bespoke funds to make financial hardship payments to individuals, as well as strengthening community groups’ capacity.
Recommendations included in the report directed towards government:
- Sustain and expand the Household Support Fund, ensuring future rounds are directed to upper‑tier authorities for efficient, targeted distribution.
- Provide additional financial support to help councils meet rising inflationary and service‑demand pressures.
- Accelerate county devolution deals to give councils more powers over economic development, housing, transport and skills.
- Ensure long‑term, sustainable infrastructure and welfare funding, including for community organisations supporting vulnerable residents.
- Recognise counties’ strategic role in supporting recovery and embed them fully in national cost‑of‑living policy responses.