484
It was proposed by Councillor Fox, also on behalf of Councillor Cory and Councillor Goacher, that:-
This Council notes:
• Colchester residents are being hit by a cost of living crisis caused by a reduction in support and rising costs including energy prices.
• At the beginning of the pandemic, the government recognised that Universal Credit did not cover the essentials.
• The £20 uplift has been a lifeline for households across our Borough including those with children, carers and people with disabilities. 40% of claimants are in work.
• Colchester has 24.6% of children living in poverty according to figures published in March 2021 by DWP/HMRC.
• The award-winning work of our council staff who have supported residents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic including through grants, Local Council Tax Support Scheme and Discretionary Housing Payments.
This Council believes that:
• The UK government should retain the £20 increase to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit.
• Any reduction in benefit will see a huge increase on services such as, food banks. Latest figures from Colchester Foodbank show they issued nearly 14.000 parcels to residents including more than 6,000 to children in the last year.
This Council requests that:
• Group Leaders write jointly to Colchester’s three MPs to lobby government to retain the £20 increase
• Cabinet ensure that Colchester Borough Council’s Welfare Benefits Team and Colchester Borough Homes’ Financial Inclusion Team are funded to meet the demands of people in need
• Cabinet continues to support organisations helping the most vulnerable including Colchester Foodbank, Citizens Advice, Community360, Munch Club and other holiday hunger projects
On being put to the vote the motion was approved and adopted (TWENTY THREE voted FOR, TWENTY TWO voted AGAINST and ONE ABSTAINED from voting).
A named vote having been requested pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(2) the voting was as follows:-
FOR: Barton, Bourne, Burrows, Chuah, Cope, Cory, Cox, Fox, Goacher, Goss, Harris, Hogg, King, Lilley, Luxford Vaughan, McCarthy, Pearson, Scordis, Scott Boutell, Warnes, J. Young, the Deputy Mayor (T. Young) and the Mayor (Davidson).
AGAINST: Barber, Buston, Chillingworth, Crow, Dundas, Ellis, Hayter, Hazell, Jowers, Laws, Leatherdale, Lissimore, Loveland, Maclean, Mannion, Moore, B. Oxford, G. Oxford, P. Oxford, Tate, Willetts and Wood.
ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: Chapman