This week I convened a meeting of council officials across the revenue and benefits, housing, food, fuel and finance teams to provide the latest information on the council’s response to the alarming cost of living crisis.

I know this is already affecting so many in Brighton and Hove. It remains a major concern of mine and I want to ensure residents are supported. The need is especially acute given that the government has pushed little more than “loans” for people already worried about debt as both the help towards council tax and discounts on fuel bills must be paid back.

On top of this, the reality of government cuts to public services is affecting the resources needed to support local communities through crisis. In Brighton and Hove alone, £100 million has been stripped from core council budgets through cuts.

Yet I’m clear we will focus on what is possible for residents, working in collaboration with our fantastic community and voluntary sector, which is also supporting residents at the sharp end. My concern is particularly with those often labelled “just about managing”, frozen out of benefit eligibility, living pay day to pay day and for whom any change in spending will spell danger.

This week a leaflet will be delivered to every household in the city detailing the free support available, covering everything from bills, energy saving and mental health advice. Currently, emergency help is available whether people are receiving benefits or not, through the government’s Household Support Fund but as funding ends in April, we’re looking at how we support local residents now.

In our budget plans going to council on Thursday, we’re increasing the local fund that helps provide essential goods to those in serious need who can’t afford to make an urgent, large one-off payment for vital household goods like a new fridge or bed.

As we know that council tax is one of the bills that our poorest households struggle with, we’re increasing support so their bills are lower. The city council is also working in partnership with fantastic local organisations such as the Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCO) so that residents in the city on a low income – or with a family member who is vulnerable – can access free energy improvements.

BHESCO can visit your home, install energy saving measures such as low-energy lights, window and door draught excluders and secondary glazing. If you’re struggling to pay for food, fuel and other essentials, the council’s community hub – established during the Covid-19 pandemic – is still here for you.

There’s much more work to be done and we cannot lose sight of long-term solutions to this crisis. The government has failed to address our dependency on profit-making oil and gas companies –but we know that for our climate and for our city, a different future is not only necessary but also possible.

The city council is already working on a solar panel installation programme, for example, prioritising the coldest, leakiest council housing first, to help bring down bills.

Through our upcoming budget plans, we’ll keep investing in our project to improve energy efficiency across the whole of the council’s housing stock.

We’ll push for action in the private rental sector too. We’re proposing investment to support a council-run ethical lettings agency, plus spending millions to deliver and build more truly affordable housing.

Though soaring demand for services like adult social care and children’s social care continues to put huge pressure on dwindling resources, we’ve worked hard to ensure essential local services like our children’s centres and libraries will stay open and prevented cuts to services like public health. We know people also want to see improvements in the look and feel of the city so we’re proposing investment in our public toilets and to expand the current, 24-hour graffiti removal work happening on London Road to other locations. We will deliver more deep cleans across the city and we’re recruiting more staff to remove weeds.

Our budget plans also include extending the award-winning tech takeback scheme that helps residents recycle waste electrical items for free, with working goods being donated to community groups. Extra money will also go into our on-street and communal bin infrastructure. As residents face the cost of living crisis we’ll do everything possible to both support those in need and to ensure our city is a place to call home for all.

Finally, please take care with Storm Eunice set to ravage the coast. Keep tuned to Met Office and weather updates. The council has issued notices to stay away from the seafront.