Agenda item

1.      The following motion has been proposed by Mayor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Pattinson –

 

          This Council notes that:

 

          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).

 

          On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average family in Watford an additional £600 a year.

 

          The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning Watford’s 16,325 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 Watford hundreds of pounds.

 

          In 2021/22 Watford Foodbanks distributed food parcels at a rate of 9533 per 100,000 people (Trussell Trust, 2022). There are also many independent foodbanks also operating in Watford which means that this figure is likely to be much, much higher. We recognise the amazing work of the people operating food banks throughout our town and know they are supporting people to be able to feed their families at this time.

 

          Council notes 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. Council notes that the Windfall Tax was first proposed by Sir Ed Davey MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats, in May 2022. Though the Windfall Tax is welcome, Council believes it does not go nearly far enough and the Government should be doing much more to support local people through the Cost of Living crisis.

 

          The Council is currently working with all relevant partners and stakeholders in our town to come together to understand the impact of the crisis on them / their clients and how we can all work together to maximise the support outcomes from our combined activities. But we recognise that this is not enough.

 

          This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

 

          Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year, saving the average household in Watford a further £600 this year

 

          Immediately re-introduce the pension’s triple lock to support Watford’s pensioners.

         

          Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.

 

          Finally the Council calls on the Elected Mayor of Watford to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5%, for the re-introduction of the pension’s triple-lock and for the £20 Universal Credit supplement to be restored in response to this crisis.

 

2.      The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Bell, the seconder to be advised –

 

          The pandemic bought into sharp focus the imbalance of power in the workplace that Trades Unions and the Labour Party have long sought to rectify.

 

          Wages have stagnated for over a decade and work is becoming increasingly insecure.

 

          Since the Conservatives came to power 12 years ago, In-Work poverty, low pay and financial insecurity have become rampant.

 

          Incomes have stagnated and many workers have experienced real terms pay decline.

 

          This Council fully supports ending the pernicious practice of ‘Fire and rehire’ and banning ‘Zero contracts’ and we will make sure Watford Council has a family friendly policy balancing work home, community and family life.

 

          This Council calls on Watford’s M.P.to stand up for these principles and support them in Government.

Council was informed that two motions had been received.

 

Motion 1

 

The following motion was proposed by Mayor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Pattinson:

           

“Council Motion: Cost of Living Emergency

 

This Council notes that:

 

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).

 

On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average family in Watford an additional £600 a year.

 

The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning Watford’s 16,325 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 Watford hundreds of pounds.

 

In 2021/22 Watford Foodbanks distributed food parcels at a rate of 9533 per 100,000 people (Trussell Trust, 2022). There are also many independent foodbanks also operating in Watford which means that this figure is likely to be much, much higher. We recognise the amazing work of the people operating food banks throughout our town and know they are supporting people to be able to feed their families at this time.

 

Council notes 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. Council notes that the Windfall Tax was first proposed by Sir Ed Davey MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats, in May 2022. Though the Windfall Tax is welcome, Council believes it does not go nearly far enough and the Government should be doing much more to support local people through the Cost of Living crisis.

 

The Council is currently working with all relevant partners and stakeholders in our town to come together to understand the impact of the crisis on them / their clients and how we can all work together to maximise the support outcomes from our combined activities. But we recognise that this is not enough.

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

 

Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year, saving the average household in Watford a further £600 this year

Immediately re-introduce the pension’s triple lock to support Watford’s pensioners.

Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.

 

Finally the Council calls on the Elected Mayor of Watford to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5%, for the re-introduction of the pension’s triple-lock and for the £20 Universal Credit supplement to be restored in response to this crisis.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That this Council notes that           

 

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).

 

On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average family in Watford an additional £600 a year.

 

The Government has suspended the pensions ‘triple lock’ for 2022/3, meaning Watford’s 16,325 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 Watford hundreds of pounds.

 

In 2021/22 Watford Foodbanks distributed food parcels at a rate of 9533 per 100,000 people (Trussell Trust, 2022). There are also many independent foodbanks also operating in Watford which means that this figure is likely to be much, much higher. We recognise the amazing work of the people operating food banks throughout our town and know they are supporting people to be able to feed their families at this time.

 

Council notes 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. Council notes that the Windfall Tax was first proposed by Sir Ed Davey MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats, in May 2022. Though the Windfall Tax is welcome, Council believes it does not go nearly far enough and the Government should be doing much more to support local people through the Cost of Living crisis.

 

The Council is currently working with all relevant partners and stakeholders in our town to come together to understand the impact of the crisis on them / their clients and how we can all work together to maximise the support outcomes from our combined activities. But we recognise that this is not enough.

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and calls on the Government to:

 

Immediately reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year, saving the average household in Watford a further £600 this year

Immediately re-introduce the pension’s triple lock to support Watford’s pensioners.

Immediately restore the Universal Credit supplement of £20, which was cancelled by the Government in September 2021.

 

Finally the Council calls on the Elected Mayor of Watford to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to express the Council’s demands for VAT to be cut to 17.5%, for the re-introduction of the pension’s triple-lock and for the £20 Universal Credit supplement to be restored in response to this crisis.

 

 

Motion 2

 

Following the publication of the agenda, an amendment was put forward by the Liberal Democrat Group, and was accepted prior to the meeting by Councillor Bell.  The following updated motion was proposed by Councillor Bell and seconded by Councillor Khan:

 

“The pandemic bought into sharp focus the imbalance of power in the workplace that Trades Unions and the Labour Party have long sought to rectify.

 

Wages have stagnated for over a decade and work is becoming increasingly insecure.

 

Since the Conservatives came to power 12 years ago, In-Work poverty, low pay and financial insecurity have become rampant.

 

Incomes have stagnated and many workers have experienced real terms pay decline.

 

This Council fully supports ending the pernicious practice of ‘Fire and rehire’ and giving a right to request a fixed-hours contract after 12 months for ‘zero hours’ and any agency workers on ‘zero hours’ that should not be unreasonably refused.  We will make sure Watford Council continues to have a family friendly policy, balancing work, home, community and family life.

 

This Council calls on Watford’s M.P.to stand up for these principles and support them in Government.”

 

Members debated the motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the pandemic bought into sharp focus the imbalance of power in the workplace that Trades Unions and the Labour Party have long sought to rectify.

 

Wages have stagnated for over a decade and work is becoming increasingly insecure.

 

Since the Conservatives came to power 12 years ago, In-Work poverty, low pay and financial insecurity have become rampant.

 

Incomes have stagnated and many workers have experienced real terms pay decline.

 

This Council fully supports ending the pernicious practice of ‘Fire and rehire’ and giving a right to request a fixed-hours contract after 12 months for ‘zero hours’ and any agency workers on ‘zero hours’ that should not be unreasonably refused.  We will make sure Watford Council continues to have a family friendly policy, balancing work, home, community and family life.

 

This Council calls on Watford’s M.P.to stand up for these principles and support them in Government.