Council
Agenda Item 40
Subject: Cost-of-living Crisis Support
Date of meeting: 20 October 2022
Proposer: Councillor Wilkinson
Seconder: Councillor O’Quinn
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Labour Group
Council notes:
a. The severity of the current cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by surging energy bills and rising inflation, and the impact this is already having on Brighton and Hove residents;
b. That whilst an urgent change of course from the Central Government is necessary, there are steps we as a local authority can take to support residents through this crisis;
Therefore, Council:
1. Declares a cost-of-living emergency and a readiness to consider launching into full crisis-footing, akin to the Covid-19 pandemic and climate emergency;
2. Requests the continued promotion of communication and awareness campaigns helping residents in need understand where they can access help, including an emphasis on benefits that have a low-take up rate*;
3. Welcomes P&R** committing to an urgent ‘Cost-of-Living Crisis Summit’, bringing together key stakeholders and partners*** and requests officers work with them to consider existing and emerging risks, and develop plans and a formal emergency response
4. Requests officers consider rising childcare costs whilst distributing the Household Support Fund and explore any additional grant funding opportunities available for childcare costs;
5. Declares its support for the formation of a Local Economy Recovery Organisation and a Mutual Credit Network to help businesses and residents struggling with inflationary pressures;
6. Restates its commitment to ramping up community wealth building efforts, particularly through procurement and support for small and medium independent local businesses to help them weather this storm;
7. Requests officers report back to Policy & Resources Committee regularly to outline progress in responding to this emergency.
Supporting Information:
*i.e. Council Tax Reduction, Pension Credits and associated benefits such as TV License Fee support for elderly people
**P&R (Policy & Resources Committee)
***i.e. health, social care, emergency services, the voluntary and community sector and our business community
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The UK is entering a recession, with inflation at
over 10%, a 40 year high, interest rates increasing and the
cost-of-living spiralling.
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Despite rising costs, the real value of pay fell
by 3% up to August 2022.
- According to a report by the Day Nurseries, the average cost of sending a child under two years old to a nursery part-time (25 hours per week) in the UK has increased to £7,212 in 2022, compared to £7,160 in 2021.
- A new poll from Credit Karma UK shows a quarter (24%) of parents have seen their childcare costs increase significantly, by an average of £110 per month. The survey also found almost one in five parents are being forced to cut down their work days while others are having to quit their jobs entirely to take care of their children due to a crippling increase in nursery fees.
https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/personal-finance/2022/09/30/inflation-rate-update/
Parents forced to quit jobs as nursery fees soar | The Independent