Subject:		Support for Excluded UK and those Excluded from Covid Support Schemes in the City: Notice of Motion referred from the Council meeting held on the 28 January 2021
Date of Meeting:		18 March 2021
Report of:		Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law
Contact Officer:	Name:	Mark Wall	Tel:	01273 291006
	E-mail:	mark.wall@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Wards Affected:	All

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1    To receive the following Notice of Motion which was debated at and referred from the full Council meeting held on the 28 January 2021.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 That the Committee responds to the motion concerning Support for Those Excluded UK and Those Excluded from Covid Support Schemes in the City, either by noting it or where it is considered more appropriate, calling for an officer report on the matter as requested, which may give consideration to a range of options.

3. CONTEXT / BACKGROND INFORMATION

3.1 The following resolution from the full council meeting held on the 28 January 2021 for the committee to consider is detailed below:

Brighton & Hove City Council

Council

4.30pm28 January 2021

Virtual

MINUTES

Present:   Councillors Robins (Chair), Mears (Deputy Chair), Allcock, Appich, Atkinson, Bagaeen, Barnett, Bell, Brennan, Brown, Childs, Clare, Davis, Deane, Druitt, Ebel, Evans, Fishleigh, Fowler, Gibson, Grimshaw, Hamilton, Heley, Henry, Hill, Hills, Hugh-Jones, Janio, Knight, Lewry, Littman, Lloyd, Mac Cafferty, McNair, Miller, Moonan, Nemeth, Nield, O'Quinn, Osborne, Peltzer Dunn, Phillips, Pissaridou, Platts, Powell, Shanks, Simson, C Theobald, West, Wilkinson, Williams and Yates.

PART ONE

NOTICES OF MOTION

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103 Support for Excluded UK and those Excluded from Covid Support Schemes in the City

103.1 The Notice of Motion as listed on the agenda was proposed by Councillor Osborne on behalf of the Green Group and formally seconded by Councillor Hugh-Jones.

103.2 Councillor Theobald proposed an amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Barnett.

103.3 Councillors Janio and Appich spoke on the motion.

103.4 Councillor Osborne noted the comments and confirmed that he would not accept the amendment.

103.5 The Mayor noted that the amendment had not been accepted and therefore put it to the vote and called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

              Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were against the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

              Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were against the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

              Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group were voting for the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was against the amendment;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she would be abstaining;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was for the amendment;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting against the amendment.

103.6 The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been lost and therefore   put the motion to the vote:

103.7 The Mayor called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the motion and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group would be abstaining, and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group;

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was for the motion;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she was for the motion;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he would be abstaining;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was for the motion.

103.8 The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.

103.9 RESOLVED: That the following Notice of Motion was agreed:

This council notes that three million people across the UK have missed out on Government financial support schemes set up in the pandemic (‘the excluded’) due to technicalities such as:

-      recently changing job;

-      being a director of a limited company;

-      earning less than half their income through self-employment;

Council notes that campaigns such as ExcludedUK have asked that the Government close the gaps in its financial support schemes, and explore options to retroactively compensate people and businesses that were ineligible for the Government’s financial support.

Council therefore resolves to:

-      Support the ‘Excluded UK’ campaign and its efforts to support ‘the excluded’;

-      ask all councillors to sign ExcludedUK’s open letter to the Chancellor that calls for such consideration; calling on the government to address the disparities in support, to ensure that all can receive support they need at this time;

-      seek the support of councillors in promoting support available from organisations focused on financial inclusion and support in the city, including by:

-      Requesting that Policy & Resources Committee consider what additional practical steps the Council can offer to offer support and advice wherever possible to those affected;

-      Continuing to promote the council’s community hub that can assist with such matters as help with bills and mental health.