Agenda item

Cost of Living Crisis

It was moved by Councillor Brooker,

Seconded by Councillor Hulme,

“ThisCouncil recognisesthat costof livingpressures haverisen tosuch anextent thatsome residents are strugglingto manageand, formany, thesituationhasnow effectivelybecome anemergency.

SloughBorough Council,using whatresources areavailable tous toprovide assistance,will prioritise support for ourresidents tothose whoneed itmost.  Weresolve to:

·  Preparea formal'state of Slough'report tobetter understand andfully assessthe impacts ofthe current crisis.

·  Arrangemeetings withpartner organisationsto ensurewe co-ordinatestaff, volunteers, and operational tasksbetweenourorganisations toassist residentsthrough ourresponses tothe cost-of­ living crisisas fullyand efficientlyas wecan andto ensurethat allthose involvedin responseactivity are well-trained andaware ofrisks facedby individuals.

·  Refreshthe 'OneSlough' VoluntarySector Partnershipand equipit tolead inproviding helpto residents in tacklingissues arisingfrom thecost-of-living crisis.

·  Provide £15 food vouchers, per week per child, to households in receipt of free school meals (under tranche three of the Housing Support Fund) to cover school holidays from Christmas 2022 until February 2023.

·  Compilea listof publicbuildings locallythat duringthis winterwill beregularly open,staffed, heated and warm- whereresidents whocan't affordto heattheir homescan safelyand comfortably spend time atno cost.

This Councilalso resolvesto writeto theUK Government callingon themto:

• Convenean emergencyresponse committeeto tacklecost ofliving pressureswith urgentmeasures
• Immediatelyreduce VATon homeenergy billsand producea sustainable planto rapidlyinvest in insulating homesthat havepoor energyefficiency/performance.
• Reviewthe legislation,method and calculationsused toset LocalHousing Allowance toensure that rates aremore responsiveto areaswith highand increasingmarket rents,so that LHAcan better respond tohousing costpressures
• Announcea medium-termfinancial settlementfor LocalAuthorities sothey canplan andprepare budgets overa medium-termfinancial cycle,ensure throughthis settlementthat localAuthorities are adequatelyresourcedfor thelife oftheir MTFSs,and usethe settlementto helplocal Councilsprovide proper support forresidents duringthe cost-of-livingcrisis.
• Recognisethe particularneeds ofthe urbanauthorities, withhigh levelsof deprivation,and prioritise thesewithin thegovernment'srefreshedcommitmentto'Levelling Up'activity.”

It was moved by Councillor Smith, as an amendment,

Seconded by Councillor Kelly,

“This Council recognises that cost of living pressures have risen due to such an extent that some residents are struggling to manage money, and for many, the situation has now effectively become an emergency.

The Council acknowledges that the Government has implemented a number of measures including:

-  47,000 Slough households have received £150 energy rebate through their Council Tax accounts in the summer.

-  That 19,700 Slough residents are receiving this month their second means-tested cost of living payments this year; this is worth £324 per benefit claimant.

-  All households are current receiving a £400 discount on their autumn energy bills.  This support is part of the Government’s £37 billion package of cost of living support, which also includes up to £1,200 worth of direct help for vulnerable families across the country in this financial year.

Slough Borough Council, using what resources are available to us to provide assistance, will prioritise support for our residents to those who need it most. We resolve to:

-  Prepare a formal 'state of Slough' report to better understand and fully assess the impacts of the current crisis.

-  Arrange meetings with partner organisations to ensure we coordinate staff, volunteers, and operational tasks between our organisations to assist residents through our responses to the cost of living crisis as fully and efficiently as we can and to ensure that all those involved in response activity are well-trained and aware of risks faced by individuals.

-  Refresh the 'One Slough' Voluntary Sector Partnership and equip it to lead in providing help to residents in tackling issues arising from the cost-of-living crisis.

-  Provide £15 food vouchers, per week per child, to households in receipt of free school meals (under tranche three of the Housing Support Fund) to cover school holidays from Christmas 2022 until February 2023.

-  Compile a list of public buildings locally that during this winter will be regularly open, staffed, heated and warm where residents who can't afford to heat their homes can safely and comfortably spend time at no cost.

This Council also resolves to write to the UK Government calling on them to:

-  Convene an emergency response committee to tackle cost of living pressures on an evolving basis as needed, with urgent measures which might include a reduction in VAT on home energy bills and a sustainable investment plan to insulatehomes that have poor energy efficiency/performance.

-  Review the legislation, method and calculations used to set Local Housing Allowance to ensure that rates are more responsive to areas with high and increasing market rents, so that LHA can better respond to housing cost pressures

-  Announce a medium-term financial settlement for Local Authorities so they can plan and prepare budgets over a medium-term financial cycle, ensure through this settlement that local Authorities are adequately resourced for the life of their MTFSs, and use the settlement to help local Councils provide proper support for residents during the cost-of-living crisis.

-  Recognise the particular needs of the urban authorities, with high levels of deprivation, and prioritise these within the government's refreshed commitment to 'Levelling Up' activity.”

The meeting signified its consent to the amendment to the motion and the amended motion became the substantive motion.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and carried with 29 votes for and 2 abstentions.

Resolved  -

This Council recognises that cost of living pressures have risen due to such an extent that some residents are struggling to manage money, and for many, the situation has now effectively become an emergency.

The Council acknowledges that the Government has implemented a number of measures including:

-  47,000 Slough households have received £150 energy rebate through their Council Tax accounts in the summer.

-  That 19,700 Slough residents are receiving this month their second means-tested cost of living payments this year; this is worth £324 per benefit claimant.

-  All households are current receiving a £400 discount on their autumn energy bills.  This support is part of the Government’s £37 billion package of cost of living support, which also includes up to £1,200 worth of direct help for vulnerable families across the country in this financial year.

Slough Borough Council, using what resources are available to us to provide assistance, will prioritise support for our residents to those who need it most. We resolve to:

-  Prepare a formal 'state of Slough' report to better understand and fully assess the impacts of the current crisis.

-  Arrange meetings with partner organisations to ensure we coordinate staff, volunteers, and operational tasks between our organisations to assist residents through our responses to the cost of living crisis as fully and efficiently as we can and to ensure that all those involved in response activity are well-trained and aware of risks faced by individuals.

-  Refresh the 'One Slough' Voluntary Sector Partnership and equip it to lead in providing help to residents in tackling issues arising from the cost-of-living crisis.

-  Provide £15 food vouchers, per week per child, to households in receipt of free school meals (under tranche three of the Housing Support Fund) to cover school holidays from Christmas 2022 until February 2023.

-  Compile a list of public buildings locally that during this winter will be regularly open, staffed, heated and warm where residents who can't afford to heat their homes can safely and comfortably spend time at no cost.

This Council also resolves to write to the UK Government calling on them to:

-  Convene an emergency response committee to tackle cost of living pressures on an evolving basis as needed, with urgent measures which might include a reduction in VAT on home energy bills and a sustainable investment plan to insulate homes that have poor energy efficiency/performance.

-  Review the legislation, method and calculations used to set Local Housing Allowance to ensure that rates are more responsive to areas with high and increasing market rents, so that LHA can better respond to housing cost pressures

-  Announce a medium-term financial settlement for Local Authorities so they can plan and prepare budgets over a medium-term financial cycle, ensure through this settlement that local Authorities are adequately resourced for the life of their MTFSs, and use the settlement to help local Councils provide proper support for residents during the cost-of-living crisis.

-  Recognise the particular needs of the urban authorities, with high levels of deprivation, and prioritise these within the government's refreshed commitment to 'Levelling Up' activity.