Agenda item

Motions

Minutes:

            The Chair confirmed that one motion had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.

 

            Councillor Gregory was then invited to present and propose her motion to the Council. 

 

            She outlined that it was asking the Council to confirm a Cost of Living Emergency in acknowledging that its residents were suffering due to a cost-of-living crisis.

 

On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25% which was projected to cost the average Arun family an additional £117.10 per year. Councillor Gregory also referred to recent figures provided by the Trussell Trust (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton Food Banks) for the last financial year confirming that 2,665 food parcels had been distributed, feeding 6,263 individuals (including repeat users) with 2,321 being distributed to children.

 

On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54%. The average standard tariff energy bill had increased by £693 with further increases due imminently to a capped average cost of £2.5K per annum for just two years, more for those on pre-payment meters.  Many households in Arun would be injected into immediate fuel poverty, meaning that more than 10% of their income would be spent on fuel particularly those on low pay and pensioners regardless of the additional monies received from Government and increased Winter Fuel Allowance.

 

Recent research undertaken with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looked at the precarious position of the worst-off 40% of households. Recommendations had been made to Government including stopping deducting benefits at unaffordable rates; capping deductions from Universal Credit from 25% to 15%; increasing basic Universal Credit entitlements to enable people to afford their essentials.  In July 2022, inflation was confirmed to be 10.1% compared to 9.4% in June and this was still rising.

 

The Conservative Government had suspended the pensions “triple lock” for 2022/23, meaning Arun’s pensioners would see a below inflation increase. Councillor Gregory believed that underthis Government, people would see tax hikes, energy bills soaring and petrol, diesel and food prices rising dramatically regardless of any help that could be received. The Government had failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis effectively and so it was felt relevant for this Council to declare a ”Cost of Living Emergency”.

 

            Councillor Gregory outlined that her motion was asking the council to:

 

 

            To declare a “Cost of Living Emergency” and as part of this, the Council should call on the Government to:

 

·                     Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Arun household £600

·                     Immediately scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills

·                     Immediately implement the cut to the National Insurance Tax hike which is costing £117.10 to local families.

·                     Immediately use revenue from the windfall tax to help Arun families with their energy bills.

 

Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Government to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5% and to scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills.

 

Further, Council requests:

 

·                     Officers to start working with a clear goal of a Council Tax Freeze for next year.

·                     An internal review into any additional help it can offer Arun families struggling with the Cost-of-Living Emergency.

·                     A section added to the website dedicated to highlight help available to those struggling with Cost of Living that is clear and easy to navigate. To include information on different organisations, local and national such as the Community Fridge, Food Banks, grants for boilers, solar panels.

 

            Councillor Walsh then seconded the motion.

 

            The Chair then invited debate. There were Councillors who stated that there were many factors within the motion that they felt they could support as it reflected accurately what many residents, especially those residing in the most deprived wards in the district, were experiencing. In addressing some of these factors, a suggestion was made by Councillor Northeast that the Motion be divided into two sections as the first part of it covered points of a political nature whereas the concluding points were relevant for this council to consider in helping those suffering as part of the crisis.

 

            This suggestion was generally accepted as a sensible suggestion as it was felt that Part (i) might not be carried upon undertaking a vote due to its political nature.  This was because there were Councillors who felt uneasy about considering a Council Tax Freeze which would limit income for the council and could result in service or staff cuts, neither of which could be sustained. 

 

 

            Part (ii) contained important work that the council could progress easily in ensuring that its website had a page dedicated to providing information that would help those in desperate need. Councillor Northeast confirmed that he wished to propose this as an amendment but that he was happy for the general debate to proceed first. 

 

            In discussing this point, the suggestion to split the motion into two parts was widely supported.  It was acknowledged that the council was already undertaking a lot of work to assist residents in providing information of who they could contact for help, support and information but that this could be expanded and provided in a way for all sectors of the community to understand. It was also highlighted that further information was also being provided in the next edition of Arun Times which would be published soon.

 

            There was debate on whether a cost of living emergency should be declared. The views on this were evenly split with Councillors agreeing on the need to provide easily accessible information that would assist residents through this difficult time ensuring that this information would be made available to those who did not have access to the web and other electronic means.

 

            As part of the continuing debate, Councillor Roberts outlined his strong feeling that the content of the motion should not have been made political. He outlined that Councillors should work together to solve the problems highlighted in the second part of the motion by highlighting strategies and solutions that could help residents. Councillor Roberts then proposed that the Motion be referred to the appropriate Committee to debate and confirm solutions to resolve some of the issues.  As with Councillor Northeast’s proposal to split the motion into two parts, the Chair confirmed that she would allow debate to continue and would then ask the proposer and seconder of the motion to confirm how they might wish to proceed.

 

            In response to the debate in general, it was accepted that the council did care greatly about its vulnerable residents and families that were struggling but that the council did already have mechanisms in place to address the difficulties being experienced. Councillor Pendleton highlighted that she would be looking very closely at the issues raised as Chair of the Housing & Wellbeing Committee in terms of what could be done to offer assistance.  Based on this, she questioned the need for the motion, although accepting that it had been well intentioned.

            Councillor Walsh, as seconder of the motion, felt that referring the motion to a Committee might not portray the reassuring and necessary signals to the residents as they needed to know that the council did have concern and needed to be confirming how it would consider assisting residents. 

 

            Councillor Gregory, as proposer of the motion, confirmed how she wished to proceed. She outlined the extensive research she had undertaken in formulating the Motion but felt that she could agree to it being split into two parts, due to its partly political stance. She also confirmed that she would be happy for the content of the motion to also be addressed by the Housing & Wellbeing Committee as a mechanised for addressing the issues raised. 

 

            Following extensive debate, the Chair confirmed that the motion would be split into three parts, as set out below:

 

            This Council resolves: To declare a “Cost of Living Emergency”  

 

(1)  As part of this, the Council calls on the Government to:  

 

·                    Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Arun household £600 this year  

·                    Immediately scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills  

·                    Immediately cut the National Insurance Tax hike which is costing £117.10 to local families. 

·                    Immediately use revenue from the windfall tax to help Arun families with their energy bills.  

 

Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Government to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5% and to scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills.  

 

(2)  Further, Council requests:  

 

·                     ADC Officers to start working with a clear goal of a Council Tax  Freeze for next year.   

·                    An internal review into any additional help it can offer Arun families struggling with the Cost-of-Living Emergency.  

·                    A section added to the website dedicated to highlight help available to those struggling with Cost of Living that is clear and easy to navigate. To include information on different organisations, local and national, for example Community Fridge, Food Banks, grants for boilers, solar panels. 

 

(3)  To take further consideration of these issues through the Housing & Wellbeing Committee.

 

Following further debate, the proposer and seconder of the motion confirmed that they would be happy to remove the heading of the Motion which read “This Council resolves to declare a “Cost of Living Emergency” in view of concerns expressed by some Members.

 

            The Chair confirmed that as requested, a recorded vote would be undertaken on each three parts of the motion, as agreed.

 

            Those voting for Part (1) of the motion – as outlined below were:

 

1.                The Council calls on the Government to:  

 

·                    Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Arun household £600 this year  

·                    Immediately scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills  

·                    Immediately cut the National Insurance Tax hike which is costing £117.10 to local families. 

·                    Immediately use revenue from the windfall tax to help Arun families with their energy bills.  

 

Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Government to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5% and to scrap the 5% VAT levied on domestic energy bills.  

 

            Councillors Brooks, Coster, Dixon, Gregory, Hamilton, Haywood, Huntley, Lury, Needs, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Oppler, Smith, Stanley, Thurston, Walsh, Warr, Worne and Yeates (19). Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Caffyn, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Madeley, Pendleton, Roberts, Stainton (19). Councillors Goodheart and Staniforth abstained from voting.

 

            It was announced that this was a tied vote with 19 Councillors voting for and 19 Councillors voting against.  The Chair confirmed that she had abstained from voting for the vote and would do so again in using her casting vote.  Therefore, the voting on Part (i) of the motion was not passed as there was not a majority vote.

 

            Voting then commenced on Part (ii) of the motion with the wording outlined below:

 

2.                Further, Council requests:  

 

·                     ADC Officers to start working with a clear goal of a Council Tax Freeze for next year. 

  

·                    An internal review into any additional help it can offer Arun families struggling with the Cost-of-Living Emergency.  

·               A section added to the website dedicated to highlight help available to those struggling with Cost of Living that is clear and easy to navigate. To include information on different organisations, local and national, for example Community Fridge, Food Banks, grants for boilers, solar panels. 

 

            A recorded vote had been requested.  Those voting for it were Councillors Brooks, Coster, Dixon, Gregory, Hamilton, Haywood, Huntley, Lury, Needs, Northeast, Oppler, Smith, Stanley, Thurston, Walsh, Warr, Worne and Yeates (18). Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Caffyn, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Madeley, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Roberts and Stainton (20). Councillors Goodheart and Staniforth abstained from voting (2).

 

            Part (ii) of the Motion was therefore declared as being NOT CARRIED.

 

            Voting then commenced on Part (iii) of the motion with the wording outlined below:

 

3.               That further consideration of the points covered in the motion be submitted to a future meeting of the Housing & Wellbeing Committee.

 

            A recorded vote had been requested. Those voting for were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Brooks, Caffyn, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Coster, Dixon, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Gregory, Gunner, Hamilton, Haywood, Hughes, Huntley, Kelly, Lury, Madeley, Needs, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Oppler, Pendleton, Roberts, Smith, Stainton, Staniforth, Stanley, Thurston, Walsh, Warr, Worne and Yeates (40). No Councillors voted against and no Councillors abstained from voting.

 

            As the voting on Part (iii) of the motion was unanimously carried, the Council

 

            RESOLVED 

 

That further consideration of the points covered in the motion be submitted to a future meeting of the Housing & Wellbeing Committee.

 

            Before moving onto the next agenda items, the Chair, inline with the Constitution at Part 5, Rules of Procedure (Meetings) – Section – Council Procedure Rules, Rule 11 [Duration of Meeting] confirmed that the Council would need to adjourn at 9.00 pm unless a vote was undertaken to extend the length of the meeting by a further 30 minutes.  Councillor Staniforth asked for a show of hands to extend the meeting by this time to 9.30 pm, if needed, to ensure that all business on the agenda would be concluded.  This was unanimously CARRIED.