Decision details

The Cost-of-Living Crisis response package included provision for better intelligence to understand who our most vulnerable residents are. This was seen as necessary as those in urgent need of help (for example due to lack of food or money for heating) do not always reach out to the council or other agencies, and often don’t receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. It was also considered important to improve our ability to identify those residents who are just about managing and who may not have accessed welfare services before. The Low Income Family Tracker Tool (LIFT) available from Policy in Practice has been identified as a product which is already in use by other authorities and could meet these objectives. Ultimately the aim of the tool is to pro-actively use our data and intelligence to provide support early before residents reach financial crisis point.

RESOLVED - That: We recommend that the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) Tool from Policy in Practice is purchased under the G-Cloud 13 Framework Agreement, and a suitable contract is put in place, and that a cost/benefits analysis is used after 12 months to confirm that the expected benefits have been realised.

Option 1: Do Nothing
As described above, the situation for Oldham residents, many of whom have low household incomes, looks set to be challenging for some time to come. It is vital therefore that we harness our data and intelligence effectively and efficiently to inform, enable and target service support early to help people to manage and stay out of crisis. Under this option, current arrangements to supporting those who seek support would be maintained, but the opportunity to take a proactive approach to identifying residents most in need would be missed.
Option 2: Improve utilisation of existing intelligence
Existing intelligence includes Experian Mosaic, Census 2021 Output (as it is released over the next few months), and data collected by the council (for example Council Tax prosecutions). Some of this has been used, for example, in directing the Doorstep Engagement Team to particular neighbourhoods, and we continue to develop the ways in which we use existing intelligence.
However, Mosaic data is only updated annually, and the estimates of, for example, income are modelled. It does not allow us to identify where residents may be missing benefits, nor is it possible to combine the full range of available data at household level to identify households who may be on the verge of crisis

Option 1: Do Nothing

Discussion have taken place with all relevant services, including at Director level. Documents detailing proposed Use Cases that utilise LIFT have been written and shared in consultation with officers within appropriate services.