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Lewes and Eastbourne
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Agenda item

Motion - Cost of Living Emergency

Motion submitted by Councillor Babarinde:

 

This Council notes that:

 

·                On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54%.

·                In light of the increased energy price cap, the average standard tariff energy bill will increase by £693 per year. The average pre-pay meter energy bill will increase by £708 per year (Ofgem, 2022).

·                On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average Eastbourne family an additional £108 per year.

·                The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning that Eastbourne’s 25,806 pensioners will see a rise of 3.1% this year (instead of 8.3% under the triple lock formula). This year, this will cost an Eastbourne Resident on the full new state pension an average of £487, and an Eastbourne Resident on the full basic state pension and average of £373 (TUC, 2022).

·                In 2021/22 Eastbourne Foodbank distributed food parcels at a rate of 17,440 per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country (Trussell Trust, 2022).

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

 

1.         Immediately impose a ‘Windfall Tax’ on the super profits of oil and gas companies and use this to take an average of £600 off an Eastbourne Resident’s energy bills this year.

2.         Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Eastbourne household a further £600 this year.

3.         Immediately re-introduce the pensions triple lock to support Eastbourne’s pensioners.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Babarinde moved and Councillor Burton seconded the following motion as set out in the agenda papers:

 

This Council notes that:

 

·       On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54%.

·       In light of the increased energy price cap, the average standard tariff energy bill will increase by £693 per year. The average pre-pay meter energy bill will increase by £708 per year (Ofgem, 2022).

·       On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average Eastbourne family an additional £108 per year.

·       The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning that Eastbourne’s 25,806 pensioners will see a rise of 3.1% this year (instead of 8.3% under the triple lock formula). This year, this will cost an Eastbourne Resident on the full new state pension an average of £487, and an Eastbourne Resident on the full basic state pension and average of £373 (TUC, 2022).

·       In 2021/22 Eastbourne Foodbank distributed food parcels at a rate of 17,440 per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country (Trussell Trust, 2022).

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

1.    Immediately impose a ‘Windfall Tax’ on the super profits of oil and gas companies and use this to take an average of £600 off an Eastbourne Resident’s energy bills this year.

2.    Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Eastbourne household a further £600 this year.

3.   Immediately re-introduce the pensions triple lock to support Eastbourne’s pensioners.”

 

Councillor Freebody moved and Councillor Lamb seconded an alternative motion:

 

“This Council notes that:

·       On 1st April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy cap by 54%.

·       Additionally – and in this same timeframe – food prices and fuel are rising caused by global inflation post pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

·       National Insurance contributions are set to increase to fund the response to the Covid NHS backlog and new investment in adult social care.

 

This Council, therefore, recognises the unprecedented financial pressures that all our residents will face in the incoming year, and notes with serious concern, that for those with low or insecure income, these pressures could prove overwhelming.

 

This Council also recognises that it has a part to play and in response, the Council will:

 

1.     PUSH UPTAKE OF PENSION CREDIT IN EASTBOURNE

Using its data, communication channels, local partnerships – and any other resources as appropriate – amplify Government publicity and the MP’s local work to maximise the take-up of Pension Credit in Eastbourne.

2.     HELP PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND TOXIC DEBT

Reviewing its processes around arrears and evictions for Eastbourne rate payers and Eastbourne Homes tenants.  Building on the work to proactively engage with residents at risk and identifying affordable payment plans.

3.     ESTABLISH A COST OF LIVING EMERGENCY FUND

Ringfencing a percentage of asset sale proceeds to establish a local cost of living emergency fund. The Council has evaluated its extensive £40m property holdings portfolio as part of its response to government bail-out requirements.”

The Council then heard from the public speaker, Howard Wardle (from Eastbourne Foodbank), on the impact of the current cost of living crisis on the demand on Eastbourne Foodbank.

 

The Council then debated the motion and the alternative motion.

 

The alternative motion was put to a vote by a show of hands and declared lost by 8 votes to 17.

 

The original motion was then put to the vote by a show of hands and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED (By 17 votes to 0, with 8 abstentions)

This Council notes that:

·       On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54%.

·       In light of the increased energy price cap, the average standard tariff energy bill will increase by £693 per year. The average pre-pay meter energy bill will increase by £708 per year (Ofgem, 2022).

·       On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average Eastbourne family an additional £108 per year.

·       The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning that Eastbourne’s 25,806 pensioners will see a rise of 3.1% this year (instead of 8.3% under the triple lock formula). This year, this will cost an Eastbourne Resident on the full new state pension an average of £487, and an Eastbourne Resident on the full basic state pension and average of £373 (TUC, 2022).

·       In 2021/22 Eastbourne Foodbank distributed food parcels at a rate of 17,440 per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country (Trussell Trust, 2022).

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

1.    Immediately impose a ‘Windfall Tax’ on the super profits of oil and gas companies and use this to take an average of £600 off an Eastbourne Resident’s energy bills this year.

2.    Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average Eastbourne household a further £600 this year.

3.   Immediately re-introduce the pensions triple lock to support Eastbourne’s pensioners.

 

 

Supporting documents: