This Council notes that:
On 17th October, the new Chancellor announced that the promised two year energy cap would be withdrawn in April, leaving energy prices for the average household set to rise again to an expected £4,347.
Alongside the rise in the cost of everyday items such as food, fuel and energy, Nottingham people, like those across the UK, now face higher interest rates for mortgages and other borrowing due to volatility following the former Chancellor’s announcements on September 23rd.
Many are already dealing with rents elevated far beyond affordability, with housing that is within the Local Housing Allowance virtually non-existent.
The council notes that financial wellbeing is one of the four priorities of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy in recognition of this being foundational to people’s ability to live in good health.
Given the urgency and depth of this crisis, Nottingham City Council declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency.’
Since 2010 successive chancellors have chosen to allow local authority funding to fall way below need, so that locally delivered services are underfunded whilst demand rises due to demographic pressures and the impact of austerity. Local authorities find it more difficult each year to balance budgets and the coming year’s budget process, without a significant change of direction from the chancellor will be amongst the worst we have seen.
Nottingham City Council will prioritise its resources, in this increasingly difficult context, towards standing with and supporting our citizens through this crisis. This council commits to supporting Nottingham residents to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis through funding services such as Welfare Rights and energy advice
We call on the Government to:
· Convene an emergency response committee to tackle the cost of living crisis with urgent measures;
· To prioritise resources to protect hard pressed families and businesses from the energy price rises and the impact of inflation – levying a windfall tax to support this;
· Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average household in Nottingham a further £600 this year;
· Deliver a sustainable plan to insulate millions of homes across the country to save on energy bills now and in the future;
· Commit to the pensions triple lock to support pensioners in Nottingham;
· Ensure benefits are uprated to adequately protect those most vulnerable to the cost of living crisis;
· Resource local authorities adequately so that they can support their citizens through this crisis and to fuel real levelling up of our regions.
The recently exacerbated turmoil is having a profound impact on people’s livelihoods, their mental and physical wellbeing and local spending decisions, all of which will impact on our local economy and services. Fundamental change is required to address what are systemic issues. People right across the country are facing impossible choices in the face of rapidly rising prices in food and energy.
Nottingham City Council urges the Government to do everything within its power to tackle this issue now. Life is harder than ever for people across the areas that were promised real change. There is now an urgent need to deliver on those promises.
Minutes:
Councillor Adele Williams proposed the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Nick Raine:
This Council notes that:
On 17th October, the new Chancellor announced that the promised two year energy cap would be withdrawn in April, leaving energy prices for the average household set to rise again to an expected £4,347.
Alongside the rise in the cost of everyday items such as food, fuel and energy, Nottingham people, like those across the UK, now face higher interest rates for mortgages and other borrowing due to volatility following the former Chancellor’s announcements on September 23rd.
Many are already dealing with rents elevated far beyond affordability, with housing that is within the Local Housing Allowance virtually non-existent.
The council notes that financial wellbeing is one of the four priorities of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy in recognition of this being foundational to people’s ability to live in good health.
Given the urgency and depth of this crisis, Nottingham City Council declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency.’
Since 2010 successive chancellors have chosen to allow local authority funding to fall way below need, so that locally delivered services are underfunded whilst demand rises due to demographic pressures and the impact of austerity. Local authorities find it more difficult each year to balance budgets and the coming year’s budget process, without a significant change of direction from the chancellor will be amongst the worst we have seen.
Nottingham City Council will prioritise its resources, in this increasingly difficult context, towards standing with and supporting our citizens through this crisis. This council commits to supporting Nottingham residents to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis through funding services such as Welfare Rights and energy advice
We call on the Government to:
· Convene an emergency response committee to tackle the cost of living crisis with urgent measures;
· To prioritise resources to protect hard pressed families and businesses from the energy price rises and the impact of inflation – levying a windfall tax to support this;
· Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, saving the average household in Nottingham a further £600 this year;
· Deliver a sustainable plan to insulate millions of homes across the country to save on energy bills now and in the future;
· Commit to the pensions triple lock to support pensioners in Nottingham;
· Ensure benefits are uprated to adequately protect those most vulnerable to the cost of living crisis;
· Resource local authorities adequately so that they can support their citizens through this crisis and to fuel real levelling up of our regions.
The recently exacerbated turmoil is having a profound impact on people’s livelihoods, their mental and physical wellbeing and local spending decisions, all of which will impact on our local economy and services. Fundamental change is required to address what are systemic issues. People right across the country are facing impossible choices in the face of rapidly rising prices in food and energy.
Nottingham City Council urges the Government to do everything within its power to tackle this issue now. Life is harder than ever for people across the areas that were promised real change. There is now an urgent need to deliver on those promises.
Resolved to carry the motion.