Agenda item

This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                           £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                    £3,193,476

·         Stockport                         £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish         £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Seek to freeze council tax in the next budget to help residents across Stockport; and

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

Moved by:                  Councillor Tom Morrison

Seconded by:           Councillor Lisa Smart

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                           £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                    £3,193,476

·         Stockport                         £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish         £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Seek to freeze council tax in the next budget to help residents across Stockport; and

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         As noted by the US Federal Reserve on 27th May 2022, the war in Ukraine will “reduce GDP and boost inflation significantly” across the globe.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. As per a written answer from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 22 June 2022, the Government has committed to reinstate the Triple Lock on pensions from next year and is providing further support for pensioners through local authorities via the Household Support Fund, available until April 2023.

·         Stockport Council voted to increase Council Tax by 3.5% for the 2022/23 municipal year, costing an average Band D household an extra £61.25 per year.

·         The Mayor of Greater Manchester raised the Mayoral Precept by £12 per household for the 2022/23 municipal year.

·         According to the latest available figures, Stockport Council’s reserves stood at £92m.

·         According to the latest available figures, a 3.5% reduction in Council Tax would represent a figure of £4.24m, approximate to 1.5% of the Council’s total revenue budget.

This Council Meeting further notes that

·      According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·      The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·      The Government introduced the Energy Profits Levy in May 2022 which is predicted to raise £5bn in revenue to HM Treasury.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·      Seek to reduce Council Tax in the next budget by 3.5% to help residents across Stockport by putting over £60 back in the pockets of an average Band D household, reversing last year’s increase.

·      Oppose any increase in the Mayoral Precept for 2023/24; and

·      Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.

For the amendment 4, against 54.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

FURTHER AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that

·         The Cost of Living crisis has impacted every resident across Stockport and according to the Institute of Government has been caused by a mixture of high inflation and tax rises over the last year.

·         Research from Greater Manchester Poverty Action shows that over 14% of children across Stockport are living in poverty.

·         That 15,665 households in Stockport are living in fuel poverty and over 12% are classed as “food poor”.

·         The Cost of Living crisis will also hit those residents claiming pensions hard. The Government’s broken promise on protecting the “triple lock” will have a total annual cost to pensioners in each constituency of:

·         Cheadle                            £3,472,669

·         Hazel Grove                     £3,193,476

·         Stockport                          £2,129,899

·         Denton & Reddish            £2,530,070

This Council Meeting further notes that

·         According to research from the IPPR, the Government is still spending £12,147 per London resident compared to £8,125 for those living in the North.

·         The Government’s levelling up agenda needs to be ambitious. Research from Bloomberg shows that salaries and transport spend in Stockport’s four constituencies were all behind London, whilst home affordability was falling at a faster rate than in the capital.

·         Despite promising to deliver a ‘windfall tax’ on electricity generators to support residents, reports are now coming out of Whitehall that this proposal could be scrapped.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to

·         Call on the UK Government to reinstate the pension triple lock;

·         Call on the Chancellor to honour his promise to deliver a windfall tax on electricity generators which would raise between £4 - £5bn;

·         Appraise the financial resources of the Council and produce a report for the next scrutiny round on revenue raised and services required by those most vulnerable to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

·         With particular reference to how a reduction in council tax revenue could impact services that assist the 1 in 6 households in Stockport - or 20,733 households – who are facing serious financial difficulties.

·         Investigate with the relevant Cabinet Members setting up a virtual “one stop shop” of financial support and advice on the Council’s website, along with any enhancements needed to our advice services in physical locations, to help residents access services they may need over the next few years.