Agenda item - Formal Member Involvement

To consider the following : 

(a) Petitions;

(b) Written Questions ;

(c). Letters;

(d) Notices of Motion - Protect Residents this winter (copy attached)

 Measures to Protect Residents of the City- Fuel Poverty

RESOLVED – That Officers prepare a report for consideration at the next scheduled meeting of the Board updating on and detailing measures put in place by the Council to provide support for those experiencing or at risk of fuel poverty.

34(a)  Petitions

34.1    There were none.

34(b)  Written Questions

34.2    There were none.

34(c)  Letters

34.3    There were none.   

34(d)  Notices of Motion

          Measures to Protect Residents from Fuel Poverty

34.4    The Board considered a Notice of Motion which had been forwarded to it directly for consideration circulated with the agenda for the meeting. It was explained that it might be helpful for Board Members to note that as Notices of Motion were an internal mechanism of the Council either for acceptance and noting of their content, or if considered appropriate to call for an Officer report; that it was elected Council Members who were expected to vote on it.

34.2    Councillor Phillips spoke in support of the Notice of Motion stating that notwithstanding that the council had sought to provide as much support as possible to residents, households in the city had been leafleted with booklets detailing support that was available to residents, the realty was that the situation had worsened significantly. The effects on the economy due to Covid, periods of furlough had been impacted by removal of £20 per week of support by the Government to the poorest families coupled with huge increases in the cost of oil and gas and other cost of living rises and forthcoming national insurance rises. The levels of support provided were very low and made it difficult for people to manage and the changes afoot made that even more difficult. The measures brought in by the Government would have a severely detrimental impact on the poorest in the city, around 10% of the population and on those who were already struggling The greatest impact would be on those who were the most vulnerable, on families with school aged children and the elderly. Council was doing all that it could but the issue was one which needed to be tackled nationally. A report to the next meeting of the Board detailing what had been done to date and suggesting further measures proposed would be beneficial.

34.3    Councillor Mac Cafferty seconded the motion calling for a report and took the opportunity to detail the measures which measures put in place by the Council to provide support for those experiencing or at risk of fuel poverty and to seek to combat poverty across the city amongst those who were poorest and the most vulnerable. This crisis had highlighted the undue reliance on fossil fuels and had been exacerbated by the impact of Brexit and the war in the Ukraine. The overall impact these measures far from levelling up gave rise to greater strain on the mental and physical wellbeing of those effected. Measures to tackle these problems had been prioritised across all council departments with collaborative cross cutting working between departments and with external third sector partners including the Citizens Advice Bureau with whom a Money Advice Partnership had been set up. A lot of measures had been put into place since the Notice of Motion had first been drafted and more were planned. The council’s own resources had been cut back year on year and the recent budget process had necessitated some very difficult decisions needing to be made. The council had done and would continue to do all that it could but wider initiatives were necessary at national level to address such issues as low wages, lack of affordable housing, high cost of living, and the fear of eviction and the impact that had on health and wellbeing.

34.4    Tom Lambert, CVS echoed all that had been said and supported the approach being taken. He was also concerned regarding the impact of these cuts on those least able to withstand the increasing rises envisaged across the board.

34.5    Councillor Appich concurred that the recent budget process had been very difficult and fully supported the Notice of Motion. Councils had seen cuts to their budgets of millions over recent years and yet were expected to put into place to support the poorest. Whilst recent grants were welcome they were insufficient to address the size of the problem and ultimately there could be many who faced the very real threat of homelessness.

34.6    Councillor Allcock also expressed his wholehearted support. In his view the Government had repeatedly failed to act responsibly with tax payers money and had wasted money which should have been used to address the underlying issues which gave rise to poverty.

34.7    The elected Council Members present then voted unanimously that the Notice of Motion be accepted and that a further update report be prepared for consideration at the next scheduled meeting of the Board.

34.8    RESOLVED – That Officers prepare a report for consideration at the next scheduled meeting of the Board updating on and detailing measures put in place by the Council to provide support for those experiencing or at risk of fuel poverty and to seek to combat poverty across the city amongst those who were poorest and the most vulnerable.