Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

Councillor Shah to MOVE and Councillor Roberts to SECOND:

Tackling the Tories cost of living crisis

Families across Oldham are facing the worse cost of living crisis in a generation, brought on by political decisions of this Conservative Government and the cumulative effects of 12 years of austerity, welfare cuts and a race to the bottom on wages through the “gig economy”.

Oldhamers are facing their highest tax burden on record, with National Insurance set to rise as well as indirect taxes. In addition fuel, food and energy costs have increased dramatically in the last few months. Aside from general inflation, profit-motivated fuel and petrochemical companies continue to make billions in profits, paid from the pockets of Oldhamers into the pockets of their shareholders. Petrol has reached a high of 151p per litre and diesel is at a record high of 155p per litre and may well be more when this motion is presented. While it is understood that global conflict raises the price of brent crude prices, government is just not doing enough to make fuel companies pass on price reductions at the pump.

Energy costs similarly, are rising by an average of 54% and the government’s price cap is set to rise to £1,970 per year on April 1^st, with a further rise expected later in the year. Wholesale gas prices have rose to an all-time high in December 2021 and are set to exceed that level again later this year. This is not only a damning indictment of the governments underfunding and underinvestment in sustainable and reliable green energy, energy efficiency in Oldham’s homes and our national power infrastructure, but of energy suppliers too.

Despite taxes being at their highest in living memory, the government’s 12-year austerity agenda has stripped public services of any capacity to deal with an inflation crisis. Indeed, benefit cuts have been a choice made by this government and as more people turn to find support, they will sadly discover it already cut away. In-work benefits are needed by many because of the unregulated gig economy operating carte blanche in UK workplaces, workers have no security, and the government is doing nothing to address this, or indeed the horrific practice of “fire and re-hire”.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that they:

·         Implement emergency measures to ease food, fuel and energy prices on Oldham residents.

·         Reverse cuts to welfare, specifically Universal Credit and restore the Triple-Lock Guarantee to the state pension to support our most vulnerable residents in this time of crisis in the cost of living.

·         Accept that families are facing a cost of living crisis and therefore reverse the decision to raise National Insurance, affecting not only workers but jobs and businesses.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Roberts SECONDED the following MOTION:

Tackling the Tories cost of living crisis

This Council notes:

Families across Oldham are facing the worse cost of living crisis in a generation, brought on by political decisions of this Conservative Government and the cumulative effects of 12 years of austerity, welfare cuts and a race to the bottom on wages through the “gig economy”.

Oldhamers are facing their highest tax burden on record, with National Insurance set to rise as well as indirect taxes. In addition, fuel, food and energy costs have increased dramatically in the last few months. Aside from general inflation, profit-motivated fuel and petrochemical companies continue to make billions in profits, paid from the pockets of Oldhamers into the pockets of their shareholders. Petrol has reached a high of 151p per litre and diesel is at a record high of 155p per litre and may well be more when this motion is presented. While it is understood that global conflict raises the price of brent crude prices, government is just not doing enough to make fuel companies pass on price reductions at the pump.

Energy costs, similarly, are rising by an average of 54% and the government’s price cap is set to rise to £1,970 per year on April 1^st, with a further rise expected later in the year. Wholesale gas prices have rose to an all-time high in December 2021 and are set to exceed that level again later this year. This is not only a damning indictment of the governments underfunding and underinvestment in sustainable and reliable green energy, energy efficiency in Oldham’s homes and our national power infrastructure, but of energy suppliers too.

Despite taxes being at their highest in living memory, the government’s 12-year austerity agenda has stripped public services of any capacity to deal with an inflation crisis. Indeed, benefit cuts have been a choice made by this government and as more people turn to find support, they will sadly discover it already cut away. In-work benefits are needed by many because of the unregulated gig economy operating carte blanche in UK workplaces, workers have no security, and the government is doing nothing to address this, or indeed the horrific practice of “fire and re-hire”.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that they:

1.    Implement emergency measures to ease food, fuel and energy prices on Oldham residents.

2.    Reverse cuts to welfare, specifically Universal Credit and restore the Triple-Lock Guarantee to the state pension to support our most vulnerable residents in this time of crisis in the cost of living.

3.    Accept that families are facing a cost-of-living crisis and therefore reverse the decision to raise National Insurance, affecting not only workers but jobs and businesses.

AMENDMENT

Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor H Gloster SECONDED the following AMENDMENTS:

a.    Change in the final paragraph in line three the word ‘request’ to ‘implore’

b.    Change the wording of the final paragraph to read: Accept that families are facing a cost-of-living crisis, and therefore reverse the decision to raise National Insurance, which affects workers but jobs and businesses, and institute universal free school meals, which will assist struggling families to properly feed their children.

The amended Motion to read:

This Council notes:

Tackling the Tories cost of living crisis

Families across Oldham are facing the worse cost of living crisis in a generation, brought on by political decisions of this Conservative Government and the cumulative effects of 12 years of austerity, welfare cuts and a race to the bottom on wages through the “gig economy”.

Oldhamers are facing their highest tax burden on record, with National Insurance set to rise as well as indirect taxes. In addition, fuel, food and energy costs have increased dramatically in the last few months. Aside from general inflation, profit-motivated fuel and petrochemical companies continue to make billions in profits, paid from the pockets of Oldhamers into the pockets of their shareholders. Petrol has reached a high of 151p per litre and diesel is at a record high of 155p per litre and may well be more when this motion is presented. While it is understood that global conflict raises the price of brent crude prices, government is just not doing enough to make fuel companies pass on price reductions at the pump.

Energy costs, similarly, are rising by an average of 54% and the government’s price cap is set to rise to £1,970 per year on April 1st, with a further rise expected later in the year. Wholesale gas prices have rose to an all-time high in December 2021 and are set to exceed that level again later this year. This is not only a damning indictment of the governments underfunding and underinvestment in sustainable and reliable green energy, energy efficiency in Oldham’s homes and our national power infrastructure, but of energy suppliers too.

Despite taxes being at their highest in living memory, the government’s 12-year austerity agenda has stripped public services of any capacity to deal with an inflation crisis. Indeed, benefit cuts have been a choice made by this government and as more people turn to find support, they will sadly discover it already cut away. In-work benefits are needed by many because of the unregulated gig economy operating carte blanche in UK workplaces, workers have no security, and the government is doing nothing to address this, or indeed the horrific practice of “fire and re-hire”.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to implore that they:

1.    Implement emergency measures to ease food, fuel and energy prices on Oldham residents.

2.    Reverse cuts to welfare, specifically Universal Credit and restore the Triple-Lock Guarantee to the state pension to support our most vulnerable residents in this time of crisis in the cost of living.

3.    Accept that families are facing a cost-of-living crisis and therefore reverse the decision to raise National Insurance, affecting not only workers but jobs and businesses, and institute universal free school meals, which will assist struggling families to properly feed their children.

A vote was the taken on the AMENDMENT and which was CARRIED and became the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION.

Councillor Woodvine spoke against the Motion

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in favour of the Motion

Councillor Stretton spoke in favour of the Motion

Councillor Goodwin spoke in favour of the Motion

Councillor Shah exercised her right of reply.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Roberts SECONDED the AMENDED Motion:

A recorded vote was requested and taken on the MOTION as follows:

On a recorded VOTE being taken 44 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION and 6 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to implore that they:

1.    Implement emergency measures to ease food, fuel and energy prices on Oldham residents.

2.    Reverse cuts to welfare, specifically Universal Credit and restore the Triple-Lock Guarantee to the state pension to support our most vulnerable residents in this time of crisis in the cost of living.

3.    Accept that families are facing a cost-of-living crisis and therefore reverse the decision to raise National Insurance, affecting not only workers but jobs and businesses, and institute universal free school meals, which will assist struggling families to properly feed their children.