The Labour Group has raised the following matter:
Council Notes
On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54 per cent.
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).
Ofgem has also stated that the price cap will further increase in October from £1,971 to £2,800.
That research by consumer group Which? has found that 57% of households have taken some form of action, including cutting back on essentials, taking out loans, and relying on savings or overdrafts to make ends meet due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning Folkestone and Hythe’s 26,791 pensioners will see a rise of 3.1 per cent this year (instead of 8.3 per cent under the triple lock formula). This year, this will cost pensioners in Folkestone and Hythe hundreds of pounds.
In 2021/22 Folkestone and Hythe Foodbanks distributed 2983 food parcels to adults and children in need from its 3 centres. This is up from 481 parcels from 2016.
Countless other organisations access food from other sources such as supermarket schemes to distribute to residents on a daily basis.
Local residents even make use of apps that allow them to get free food from shops in the district to save money when possible.
That the decision taken in June 2022 to impose a ‘Windfall Tax’ on the super-profits of oil and gas companies and to redistribute this as a one-off payment of £400 to households later this year.
The welcoming of a further £650 cost of living payment to those residents receiving means tested support.
Council Believes
That the support currently on offer is not nearly enough for those residents in the district who will suffer the most with this current cost of living emergency.
That only by working in partnership with the many agencies within the district that currently offer all forms of support, can we reasonably address this emergency.
A collaborative plan to address the cost-of-living emergency should be in place by October.
Council Resolves
To declare a cost-of-living emergency for Folkestone and Hythe.
To build on the good work the council already carries out with regards to its collaboration with the voluntary sector and convene a cost-of-living summit within the district by October, looking at every possible way in which residents can be assisted through what will be a very tough winter.
This summit should involve all the voluntary organisations within the district who currently provide assistance to residents. As well as key organisations such as Kent Police, Citizens Advice, local GP’s, and the district school network.
The summit should provide a blueprint for residents to manage through the cost-of-living emergency with regards to, education, funding, and awareness.
To both lobby our local MP and call on the leader of the council to write to the secretary of state for work and pensions for the following:
· Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.
· To increase the rate of universal credit and other support payments to a sum which is appropriate to the current level of inflation.
Debates on opposition business shall be limited to 30 minutes. If the time limit is reached or the debate concludes earlier, the leader of the group raising the item shall have a right of reply.
The Council shall:
a) Note the issue raised and take no further action;
b) Refer the issue to the cabinet or relevant overview and scrutiny committee, as the case may be for their observations before deciding whether to make a decision on the issue;
c) Agree to examine the matter as part of a future scrutiny programme;
d) Adopt the issue raised by opposition business provided that the decision so made is within the policy framework and budget.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor McConville, set out the Opposition Business which related asked that a cost of living emergency be declared for Folkestone and Hythe.
Proposed by Councillor McConville,
Seconded by Councillor Keutenius; and
RESOLVED:
That Option (c) (agree to examine the matter as part of a future scrutiny programme) be agreed for the business below:
· To declare a cost-of-living emergency for Folkestone and Hythe.
· To build on the good work the council already carries out with regards to its collaboration with the voluntary sector and convene a cost-of-living summit within the district by October, looking at every possible way in which residents can be assisted through what will be a very tough winter.
This summit should involve all the voluntary organisations within the district who currently provide assistance to residents. As well as key organisations such as Kent Police, Citizens Advice, local GP’s, and the district school network.
The summit should provide a blueprint for residents to manage through the cost-of-living emergency with regards to, education, funding, and awareness.
· To both lobby our local MP and call on the leader of the council to write to the secretary of state for work and pensions for the following:
· Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.
· To increase the rate of universal credit and other support payments to a sum which is appropriate to the current level of inflation.
(Voting figures: 27 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).