Agenda item

To consider the motion calling on Government to retain the £20 per week Universal Credit uplift.

Councillor Khan was invited to present the motion regarding the Universal Credit Uplift. He said that he had put this motion together from a place of fairness and compassion. He praised the 30 councillors who had signed up in support of the motion, recognising the need to protect the most vulnerable people at a time when household costs were rising. He said that challenging the Government to retain the £20 uplift was the right thing to do and asked Council to support the proposal as set out in the agenda, as follows:

 

Motion:

 

This Council recognises the positive impact of the £20 uplift on Universal Credit implemented in April 2020.

 

It is now increasingly likely that the Government will withdraw the £20 Universal credit uplift meaning many families in Uttlesford are potentially facing a loss of £1,040 a year to their incomes overnight.

Official statistics from the Local Government Association indicate that 4,806 people were claiming Universal Credit in Uttlesford in August 2021. 2,078 were in employment.

 

At the end of the month, two of the major protections to protect household finances in Uttlesford during the pandemic are scheduled to end. These are:

The Job Retention Scheme and the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit. October will also see a 12% rise in the maximum amount energy providers can charge which will see people having to pay more to heat their homes.

 

Therefore:

 

I. The Council calls on the UK government to help families in Uttlesford by retaining the £20 uplift.

II. The Council agrees to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our MP Kemi Badenoch, who is now a Minister in the Department for Levelling Up, requesting they retain the £20 uplift on Universal Credit. This will send a clear message to our residents following the pandemic which has resulted in acute financial pressures, job losses and increased debt, that we believe in fairness.

 

In response to a question from the Chair regarding the validity of the amendments, the Chief Executive said the advice had been on balance that the amendments were valid and had not negated the purpose of the motion.

 

Councillor LeCount had provided notice of an amendment and was invited to propose. He thanked Councillor Khan and Caton for their motion, which had given him the idea to ask other members whether more could be done to help residents in need. Following consultation with other councillors, he felt that a real difference could be made if members donated their allowance for the month of November to the Uttlesford Food Bank. This would help those most in need and show that Uttlesford District Council cared. He proposed the amendment as published with the agenda:

 

 

 Amended Motion:

 

This Council recognises the positive impact of the £20 uplift on Universal Credit implemented by the Government in April 2020.

 

It is now increasingly likely that the temporary £20 Universal credit uplift will be brought to an end meaning there are families in Uttlesford who are potentially facing a loss of £1,040 a year to their incomes. Official statistics from the Local Government Association indicate that 4,806 people were claiming Universal Credit in Uttlesford in August 2021. 2,078 were in employment.

 

At the end of the month, two of the major protections to household finances in Uttlesford during the pandemic are scheduled to end.

 

These are:

The Job Retention Scheme and

The £20 a week increase in Universal Credit.

 

October will also see a 12% rise in the maximum amount energy providers can charge which will see people having to pay more to heat their homes.

 

Therefore:

 

The Council calls on the UK government to continue to support those in need through the benefits system, but to also prioritise investment and support into employment and skills to further help families in Uttlesford as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Furthermore, this Council believes in immediate, positive and direct action which will have an effect on people's lives. Accordingly, Council resolves:

 

a. To invite all Councillors to donate to the Uttlesford Food Bank during the month of November 2021, up to the extent of their Councillor's allowances for the month of November 2021, such monies to be used collectively to provide additional support and comfort during the Christmas and winter period to those of our residents in greatest need, through the Uttlesford Food Bank.

b. That Cllr LeCount report back to the first full Council of 2022 on the actions undertaken and extent of the additional support provided to residents and that the Director of Finance be requested to monitor the expenditure undertaken.

 

Councillor Criscione said the past two years had been extremely challenging for everyone. The economic impact had hit the most vulnerable in our society the hardest, one mitigating measure introduced by the Government to alleviate hardship was the temporary uplift in Universal Credit. He said more was needed than writing a letter to Government and he was grateful to Councillors LeCount, Gregory and Pavitt for coming up with an initiative that would result in direct action to help residents in need. He said the original motion was politically motivated, as demonstrated by the same motion being sponsored by Liberal Democrats at local authorities across the country.

 

Councillor Dean spoke against the amendment; he said families wanted money in their pockets, not donations to the Foodbank. The amendment softened the intent of the motion and he asked members to reject it.

 

The Chair said he would take no further speakers as there was under five minutes remaining before the Council Chamber had to be vacated for ventilation purposes. He moved to a vote on the amendment.

 

The amendment was carried 17 for, 13 against with 1 abstention.

 

The Chair said notice had been received of a further amendment, as proposed by Councillor Khan. 

 

Councillor Khan proposed the further amendment as follows:

 

This Council recognises the positive impact of the £20 uplift on Universal Credit implemented in April 2020.

 

It is now increasingly likely that the Government will withdraw the temporary £20 Universal credit uplift meaning many families in Uttlesford are potentially facing a loss of £1,040 a year to their incomes overnight.

 

Official statistics from the Local Government Association indicate that 4,806 people were claiming Universal Credit in Uttlesford in August 2021. 2,078 were in employment.

 

At the end of the month, two of the major schemes designed to protect household finances in Uttlesford during the pandemic are scheduled to end. These are:

 

The Job Retention Scheme and

The £20 a week increase in Universal Credit.

 

October will also see a 12% rise in the maximum amount energy providers can charge which will see people having to pay more to heat their homes.

 

Therefore:

 

The Council calls on the UK government to:

 

I. help families in Uttlesford by retaining the £20 uplift.

 

II. The Council furthermore agrees to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our MP Kemi Badenoch, who is now a Minister in the Department for Levelling Up, requesting they retain the £20 uplift on Universal Credit. This will send a clear message to our residents following the pandemic which has resulted in acute financial pressures, job losses and increased debt, that we believe in fairness.

 

Furthermore, this Council believes in immediate, positive and direct action which will have an effect on people's lives. Accordingly, Council resolves;

 

a. To invite all Councillors to donate to the Uttesford Food Bank during the month of November 2021. The funds raised to be used to provide additional support and comfort during the Christmas and winter period for the 4806 people claiming Universal Credit across Uttlesford and those in greatest need.

 

b. To ask Cllr Khan to liaise with the CEO of Uttlesford Foodbank in order to report to the Council in early 2022 on how the cash raised was used to support those families and individuals in need.

 

 

The further amendment was carried 14 votes for, 13 against, with 4 abstentions.

 

The Chair moved to a vote on the substantive motion.

 

Councillor Fairhurst called for a recorded vote.

 

Councillor:	For, Against or Abstain
Armstrong	Abstain
Barker	Against
Caton	For
Coote	For
Criscione	Against
Day	Against
De Vries	For
Dean	For
Driscoll	For
Emanuel	For
Evans	For
Fairhurst	For
Foley	For
Freeman	For
Gregory	For
Hargreaves	For
Jones	For
Khan	For
Lavelle	For
LeCount	For
Lees	For
Lemon	For
Light	For
Loughlin	For
Merifield	For
Oliver	Abstain
Pavitt	Abstain
Pepper	For
Reeve	For
Sell	For
Sutton	For

 

The substantive motion was approved 25 votes for, 3 against, with 3 abstentions.

 

RESOLVED: This Council recognises the positive impact of the £20 uplift on Universal Credit implemented in April 2020.

 

It is now increasingly likely that the Government will withdraw the temporary £20 Universal credit uplift meaning many families in Uttlesford are potentially facing a loss of £1,040 a year to their incomes overnight.

 

Official statistics from the Local Government Association indicate that 4,806 people were claiming Universal Credit in Uttlesford in August 2021. 2,078 were in employment.

 

At the end of the month, two of the major schemes designed to protect household finances in Uttlesford during the pandemic are scheduled to end. These are:

 

The Job Retention Scheme and

The £20 a week increase in Universal Credit.

 

October will also see a 12% rise in the maximum amount energy    providers can charge which will see people having to pay more to heat their homes.

 

Therefore:

 

The Council calls on the UK government to:

 

I. help families in Uttlesford by retaining the £20 uplift.

 

II. The Council furthermore agrees to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our MP Kemi Badenoch, who is now a Minister in the Department for Levelling Up, requesting they retain the £20 uplift on Universal Credit. This will send a clear message to our residents following the pandemic which has resulted in acute financial pressures, job losses and increased debt, that we believe in fairness.

 

Furthermore, this Council believes in immediate, positive and direct action which will have an effect on people's lives. Accordingly, Council resolves;

 

a. To invite all Councillors to donate to the Uttlesford Food Bank during the month of November 2021. The funds raised to be used to provide additional support and comfort during the Christmas and winter period for the 4806 people claiming Universal Credit across Uttlesford and those in greatest need.

 

b. To ask Cllr Khan to liaise with the CEO of Uttlesford Foodbank in order to report to the Council in early 2022 on how the cash raised was used to support those families and individuals in need.

 

 

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9.03pm to Wednesday, 6 October at 7.00pm.