Minutes:
The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Richard Udall, Cllr Luke Mallett, Cllr Dan Boatright, Cllr Lynn Denham, Cllr Josh Robinson, and Cllr Andy Fry.
The motion was moved by Cllr Mel Allcott and seconded by Cllr Lynn Denham who both spoke in favour of it, and Council agreed to deal with it on the day.
The following amendment was moved by Cllr Adam Kent and seconded by Cllr Andy Roberts:
“Council acknowledges the cost-of-living pressure on Worcestershire residents and businesses. It calls upon the Leader of the Council to give responsibility to a member of the Cabinet to coordinate the Council’s response, to enable the authority to continue to help provide support to Worcestershire residents and businesses.”
The mover and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment and the motion as amended became the substantive motion. Members spoke in favour of the motion with the following points being made:
· With people unable to pay their bills as a result of increased energy costs and rising inflation, targeted support was required through a One Worcestershire approach for those people in need. There was no reference on the Council’s web site to a cost-of-living crisis and no signposts to support services. The Council should declare a cost-of-living crisis and treat it as a priority
· The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication commented that there was cost-of-living advice provided under the Here-to-Help section on the Council’s website. The Government had provided huge amounts of support to residents and businesses over the last couple of years in response to covid and now in response to the huge increases in energy prices. The cost-of-living issues in the county were being acknowledged and addressed. The Council was providing support with partner district councils through a number of initiatives including the distribution of the Household Support Grant for free school meals in school holidays, walm homes via Age UK, oil fuel vouchers, walm boxes, act on energy support and Here-to-Help etc. Councillors had a role to play in helping local residents in need to access these support services. He would ensure that pathways to support services were highlighted in the media
· The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families indicated that the amendment called for a co-ordination of the Council’s response to the cost-of-living pressures. This was a less bureaucratic approach than the proposals set out in the original motion. Children, especially the most vulnerable (including unaccompanied asylum seekers) would suffer the greatest hardship during this difficult financial period. Putting children first was a key strategy for the Council and children-in-need, particularly children leaving care, were at the core of this work
· It was disappointing that the amendment did not recognise the cost-of-living crisis because it was a crisis not a pressure. The key issue was the action to be taken to address the myriad of issues
· It was disappointing that this issue had not been raised through the scrutiny process to enable councillors consider and discuss a local level delivery plan to address this issue for local residents, identify gaps in provision and provide a clear steer and recommendations to Cabinet
· A lot more could be done in conjunction with district councils to support local residents particularly in relation to energy efficiency and targeted help for example, in co-ordinating and supporting walm spaces
· There was a lot of support available and the Council needed to communicate more effectively to ensure that the local residents received whatever help was available
· It was queried whether Council staff were receiving the support they required out of work hours and whether for example, a larder would be opened at County Hall
· All councillors needed to be proactive and inform local residents of the support that was available to them.
On being put to a vote, the substantive motion was agreed.
RESOLVED “Council acknowledges the cost-of-living pressure on Worcestershire residents and businesses. It calls upon the Leader of the Council to give responsibility to a member of the Cabinet to coordinate the Council’s response, to enable the authority to continue to help provide support to Worcestershire residents and businesses.”