We’ve always tried to help those in need in our city and to that end we’ve recently set up a new fund which will support people in financial crisis and prevent others from reaching crisis point in the first place.
The new three-year Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF) - a further example of how the Government is looking after people in financial crisis - brings £3.6m a year to Peterborough over the next three years to support residents.
In the short term the fund can provide a safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock, such as sudden income loss or unexpected expenses.
In the long term it will build stronger support in communities to enable people to better deal with financial shocks when they occur and hopefully reduce crisis need.
The CRF replaces the Household Support Fund and therefore the supermarket voucher scheme has now come to an end. We notified all schools and parents beforehand – and we are confident that with support from Peterborough City Council and partners, households will increase their income and receive all the benefits to which they are entitled.
This change also coincides with changes nationally which should positively impact low-income households, such as the removal of the two-child limit in relation to Child Benefit. Overall, families should be better off.
Ideally, we want to see people becoming more confident and self-sustainable with their finances, which will help them in the long run but also Peterborough itself.
At the same time, we want them to be aware of the extensive help that’s on offer, and there is a section of our website which can help people to see what they may be entitled to.
For example, our Better Off Calculator allows people to check what benefits and other support may apply to them. It’s a strong tool, and since its launch in January more than 200 Peterborough households have found that they were missing out on more than £120,000 in benefits. We’ve also identified and directly contacted thousands of residents.
Meanwhile our Communities Teams and Family Hubs, alongside partners such as Citizens Advice Peterborough and Green Energy Switch, continue to work hard to support families.
So the message is clear – if you’re struggling, we can help. Just reach out to us and ask about the support that is available.
At the annual council meeting in May I assured members, once again, that I wanted to work collaboratively with every political party on the council for the good of the city.
So it was pleasing and very positive last week to attend the cross-party Financial Sustainability Working Group meeting of the council year - the first in well over a year to include representatives from all the political groups.
It was a truly collaborative meeting which I hope sets a precedent for cohesion and cooperation between members moving forward. It is an example to us all of how we don’t always have to be overtly political, especially when it is good for the city and our residents.
And finally, it was fantastic news to learn of the investment by Amazon in a second site in our city which is the first of its kind in the UK, creating an additional 1,400 jobs.
This is a further example of Peterborough's growing reputation as a great place to invest and do business and is even more welcome at a time when there is a national focus on the challenges for young people in gaining employment.
Amazon has been a major employer in the city for the past 15 years and it is very positive that they are now expanding their operations and providing a wide range of employment opportunities for residents. Recruitment is underway for the new roles so I would encourage residents to find out more.