Agenda item

This Council notes that:

 

This Government has consistently failed to address the cost of living crisis.

 

Oxfordshire households face spiralling costs with fuel and energy costs, especially affecting front line workers, logistics, farming and food production.

 

Energy & fuel risesimpact on all this council's services and there is concern about budgeted schemes due to inflation, and availability of personnel and resources.

 

1 in 3 households reported their cost of living had risen, citing affordability of food and medicines as a major concern. Many households face a decision between “heat or eat”

 

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

 

Subsidisebuses and trains, to ensure that people can travel for essential education and work.

 

Urgently review the energy cap to provide much greater protection to consumers, including a cap for off grid homes.

 

Immediately change taxation on fuel to transfer the risk of price changes to the Government pegged at long-term average prices.

 

Immediately reduce VAT to 17.5%

 

Restore the £20 Universal Credit supplement, previously cancelled by the Government.

 

Recognise Oxfordshire will need urgent additional funds to support homelessness, school transport, social care services, waste disposal, and a plethora of other council functions and programme deliveries affected by the increase in prices and inflation.

 

Council recommends to the Cabinet that this Council holds an urgent Cost-of-Living Summit to work towards a holistic and adaptive response to the emergency in Oxfordshire.

 

With the consent of Council,  Councillor Roz Smith moved and Councillor Ian Middleton seconded the following motion amended by the suggestion of Councillor Roz Smith below

 

This Council notes that:

 

This Government has consistently failed to address prepare for the cost-of-living crisis.

 

Oxfordshire households face spiraling costs with fuel and energy costs, especially affecting front line workers, logistics, farming and food production.

 

Energy & fuel rises impact on all this council's services and there is concern about budgeted schemes due to inflation, and availability of personnel and resources.

 

1 in 3 households reported their cost of living had risen, citing affordability of food and medicines as a major concern. Many households face a decision between “heat or eat”

 

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

 

Subsidize buses and trains, to ensure that people can travel for essential education and work.

 

Urgently review the energy cap to provide much greater protection to consumers, including a cap for off grid homes.  Invest in decarbonising energy in the UK to prepare for further energy shortages and sustainability.

 

Immediately change taxation on fuel to transfer the risk of price changes to the Government pegged at long-term average prices.

 

Immediately reduce VAT to 17.5%

 

Restore the £20 Universal Credit supplement, previously cancelled by the Government.

 

Recognise Oxfordshire will need urgent additional funds to support homelessness, school transport, social care services, waste disposal, and a plethora of other council functions and programme deliveries affected by the increase in prices and inflation.

 

Council recommends to the Cabinet that this Council holds an urgent Cost-of-Living Summit to work towards a holistic and adaptive response to the emergency in Oxfordshire.

 

 

Councillor Eddie Reeves moved and Councillor David Bartholomew seconded the following amendment to the Motion as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:-

 

This Council notes that:

 

This Governments internationally has consistently failed to address are grappling with the cost of living crisis induced by Russian aggression in Ukraine and exacerbated by the pandemic.

 

 

Oxfordshire households face spiralling costs with fuel and energy costs, rising Council Tax and other outgoings especially affecting front line workers, hardworking families and businesses in the logistics, hospitality, farming and food production sectors.

 

Energy & fuel rises impact on all this council's services and there is concern about budgetsed schemes due to inflation, and the availability of personnel and resources.

 

1 in 31/3 households reported that their cost of living hasd risen, citing affordability of food and medicines as a major concern.  Many households face a decision between “heat or eat”.

 

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’ and will actively consider applying reasonable levels of unspent reserves, including its underspent Budget Priority Reserve, to protecting those most in need from the worst effects of this emergency.

 

This Council further calls on the Government to:

 

Subsidise buses and trains, to ensure thatHelp the Council to provide affordable public transport so that people can travel for essential education and work.

 

Urgently rReview the energy cap to provide much greater protection to consumers, including a cap for oil-heated and off-grid homes.

 

Immediately cChange taxation on fuel to transfer the risk of price changes to the Government pegged at long term average prices.

 

Immediately rReduceVAT to 17.5% taxes.

 

Introduce measures to help those on Universal Credit and other benefits.  Restore the £20 Universal Credit supplement, previously cancelled by the Government.

 

Recognise Oxfordshire’s will need for urgent additional funds to support those services homelessness, school transport, social care services, waste disposal, and a plethora of other council functions and programme deliveries worst affected by the increase in process and inflation.

 

This Council recommends to the Cabinet that this Council holds ana cross-party urgent Cost-of-Living Summit be held to work towards a holistic and adaptive response to the emergency in Oxfordshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following debate the amendment by Councillor Eddie Reeves was put to the vote and was lost by 30 votes to 12

 

The substantive motion as amended was carried by 30 votes to 12

 

RESOLVED (by 30 votes to 12):-

 

This Council notes that:

 

This Government has consistently failed to prepare forthe cost-of-living crisis.

 

Oxfordshire households face spiraling costs with fuel and energy costs, especially affecting front line workers, logistics, farming and food production.

 

Energy & fuel rises impact on all this council's services and there is concern about budgeted schemes due to inflation, and availability of personnel and resources.

 

1 in 3 households reported their cost of living had risen, citing affordability of food and medicines as a major concern. Many households face a decision between “heat or eat”

 

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

 

Subsidize buses and trains, to ensure that people can travel for essential education and work.

 

Urgently invest in decarbonising energy in the UK to prepare for further energy shortages and sustainability.

 

Immediately change taxation on fuel to transfer the risk of price changes to the Government pegged at long-term average prices.

 

Immediately reduce VAT to 17.5%

 

Restore the £20 Universal Credit supplement, previously cancelled by the Government.

 

Recognise Oxfordshire will need urgent additional funds to support homelessness, school transport, social care services, waste disposal, and a plethora of other council functions and programme deliveries affected by the increase in prices and inflation.

 

Council recommends to the Cabinet that this Council holds an urgent Cost-of-Living Summit to work towards a holistic and adaptive response to the emergency in Oxfordshire.