Motion proposed by the Hull Lib Dem Group: Proposer - Cllr Haines, 2nd – Cllr Ross
Council notes:
That Hull and its residents are suffering due to the cost-of-living crisis.
On 6 April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, which is projected to cost the average Hull family an additional £117.10 per year.
Council also notes recent figures provided by the Trussell Trust recording those 6218 food parcels were distributed to Hull residents between April 2021 and April 2022 – with 1991 being distributed to children.
On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54 per cent.
In the 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 18 May 2022, inflation was confirmed to be at 9 per cent.
The Conservative government has suspended the pensions “triple lock” for 2022/3, meaning that Hull’s pensioners will see a below inflation increase. Further, they have removed the relied on £20 Universal Credit uplift.
Council believes:
Under this Government people are seeing tax hikes, energy bills soaring and petrol and food prices rising drastically.
The Conservative Government has totemically failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Therefore, this council declares a “Cost of Living Emergency”
Council resolves:
to declare a “Cost of Living Emergency”
As part of this Council 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 Hull household a further £600 this year
- Immediately cut the National Insurance Tax hike which is costing £117.10
- Immediately use revenue from a windfall tax to help Hull families with their energy bills.
Council instructs the Chief Executive 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 per cent, for the re-introduction of the pension triple-lock and for the £20 Universal Credit supplement to be restored.
Furthermore, Council calls for an internal review into what the council can offer Hull families struggling with the Cost-of-Living Emergency – with the input of stakeholders including Citizens Advice, Food Banks, local Trade Unions and Chambers of Commerce.
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