Council and democracy

Agenda item

Motion submitted by Councillor Polley

Minutes:

The motion, as printed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Polley and seconded by Councillor Mayes. The motion read as follows:

 

Cost of Living - This Council resolves to work with the Government to ensure that it delivers the much-appreciated support to the residents of Thurrock as quickly as possible, and that the Council proactively identifies those most in need of support in the Thurrock area and ensure that they have access to all the Government support they are eligible for.

 

Councillor Polley presented her motion by stating the third sector in Thurrock was amazing and it was those voluntary sectors that could identify where the most need was for this support. She referred to the amazing work and knowledge of the LACs, nationally the 18 million homes in fuel poverty would likely increase winter death by 10% with an additional cost to the NHS by £2.5 billion, the increased pressures put on the emergency fire and rescue services and the need to continue with school meal payments for children when not in school. Councillor Polley concluded that she would like to see Thurrock Council work with the government as much as possible to ensure the maximum amount of relief be distributed to Thurrock residents and to ensure Thurrock residents were looked after.

 

Councillor Spillman stated his support and welcomed the motion and agreed more integrated frontline services across local government was required to prevent multiple visits to resident’s homes and to ensure help could be provided quicker. That a review of housing services would commence next month to see where services could be integrated more effectively into health and social care functions.

 

Councillor J Kent stated his support on this motion and had been surprised this motion had been put forward by a conservative member when over the last 12 years as a conservative government there had been the biggest drop in take-home pay in history, with food and fuel prices soaring, inflation at a 40-year high and family budgets at breaking point. Councillor J Kent referred to the nationally 18 million homes in fuel poverty which could lead to 10,000 winter deaths when the NHS was already facing unprecedented pressures. The council was having to deal with a Conservative financial catastrophe which limited the type of services that the council could and should be undertaking. This was the time to make some one-off grants to voluntary bodies, food uniform grants, a Thurrock’s hardship fund could have been established to help residents and although labour members would be supporting the motion it had not to be forgotten who was to blame for the situation that Thurrock had found itself in.

 

Councillor Byrne stated his 100% support to the motion.

 

Councillor Mayes supported this motion and stated although he was very grateful to the government for the cost-of-living payment of £650, the payment towards the fuel bill of £400, the capping of the energy cost for the average home at £2,500, the disability cost of living payment of £150 as well as the council tax rebate of £150 he felt that in the future this should be more targeted. Councillor Mayes stated his gratitude for this support, moving forward the support should be given to those in a more targeted way, for those that needed it the most which would be the right and fair thing to do, and action needed to be undertaken as quickly as possible for those struggling residents.

 

Councillor Polley summed up by thanking members for their support and agreed targeting should be introduced and welcomed that the chancellor had recognised this had not been the best laid out plan and not been afraid to say the government would not want to be in this position nationally or locally and to find ways to start to move forward. Thurrock needed to ensure that all the help coming from government was disseminated out to Thurrock residents.

 

The Mayor called a vote on the motion. With the 42 votes in favour, 0 against and 0 abstained the motion was carried.

Supporting documents: