Warwickshire councillors are set to meet this week to tackle the growing burden of living expenses across the area.
The meeting comes after Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands) issued an urgent appeal last week, highlighting increasing fuel prices and their possible wider effects due to Middle Eastern instability.
According to remarks Roodhouse gave to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council leader Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) showed keen interest in progressing the idea for a cross-party session, which has gained backing from other opposition parties.
The plea called on Warwickshire County Council, the five district and borough councils in the region, businesses, charitable organisations, and community groups to work together in mounting a determined and swift response to difficulties impacting local people.
While Roodhouse recognised the council cannot control fluctuating fuel prices, he suggested that current assistance schemes could be improved through more effective coordination of resources including food aid and cost-of-living schemes.
The proposed measures include expanding access to warm spaces and food banks, working with energy companies to improve access to advice, financial help, and efficiency schemes, supporting community food networks to tackle affordability issues, partnering with local businesses to reduce financial strain and protect employment, and urging Parliament to boost funding and targeted help for residents in Warwickshire without connection to the mains energy grid.
Roodhouse noted that the council has little power to affect petrol and diesel prices but can provide guidance, help people, and coordinate that support. He highlighted that the county council is good at this kind of coordination, as seen during the pandemic, and that this situation is not entirely a repeat of that but they want to bring back similar coordination work, working with voluntary groups across Warwickshire.
Roodhouse explained that major financial pledges are not possible, which is acceptable, but by bringing services together across district, borough, and parish councils with a shared approach, real difference can be made without extra spending. The aim, he said, is making sure information gets to those who need it and finding communities that need more help. Much of this work is already happening but it is not visible. Regarding foodbanks, Roodhouse knows there are good schemes in Rugby but the council does not have a clear picture of lunch and food help that exists. All of this can be done without significant spending.
Members from different political backgrounds will work together to decide how best to put Roodhouse’s ideas into practice, which he expects to begin in April and May.
Roodhouse emphasised the importance of getting ready for winter difficulties, describing the cross-party commitment to tackling the issue as the right way to approach this. He added that working together is vital, putting politics aside for the benefit of Warwickshire people.