Agenda item

Council deplores the decision of the Government to remove the ‘temporary’ uplift in Universal Credit on 1st October.

Council agrees with the former leader of the Conservative Party and architect of Universal Credit, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and five of his successors (Stephen Crabb, Damian Green, David Gauke, Esther McVey and Amber Rudd) that a failure to keep the uplift in place would 'damage living standards, health and opportunities [for those that] need our support most as we emerge from the pandemic […] and the extra £20 [... ] has been essential in allowing people to live with dignity’.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to request that the uplift be incorporated permanently into Universal Credit.

Council Agreed the following motion

Council strongly disapproves of the decision of the Government to remove the ‘temporary’ uplift in Universal Credit on 1st October.

Council agrees with the former leader of the Conservative Party and architect of Universal Credit, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and five of his ministerial successors at the Department for Work and Pensions (Stephen Crabb, Damian Green, David Gauke, Esther McVey and Amber Rudd) that a failure to keep the uplift in place would 'damage living standards, health and opportunities [for those that] need our support most as we emerge from the pandemic […] and the extra £20 [... ] has been essential in allowing people to live with dignity’.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to request that the uplift be incorporated permanently into Universal Credit.

Councillor Dr Ian Sollom proposed and Councillor Judith Rippeth seconded the following motion, with amendments to the motion in the agenda highlighted.

Council deplores strongly disapproves of the decision of the Government to remove the ‘temporary’ uplift in Universal Credit on 1st October.

Council agrees with the former leader of the Conservative Party and architect of Universal Credit, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and five of his ministerial successors at the Department for Work and Pensions (Stephen Crabb, Damian Green, David Gauke, Esther McVey and Amber Rudd) that a failure to keep the uplift in place would 'damage living standards, health and opportunities [for those that] need our support most as we emerge from the pandemic […] and the extra £20 [... ] has been essential in allowing people to live with dignity’.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to request that the uplift be incorporated permanently into Universal Credit.

Councillor Dr Ian Sollom explained that the number of recipients of Universal Credit had more than doubled during the Covid-19 pandemic and they were all facing extreme hardship at the end of September, with single parents and ethnic minority families being disproportionately affected. He urged that the Council informs the Government that the removal of the extra £20 payment was wrong. Councillor Judith Rippeth agreed with Councillor Dr Sollom and asserted that to remove the payment when furlough was also ending was unacceptable.

Councillor Heather Williams agreed that a continuation of the £20 payment was best for the residents in the District and she was putting them before party politics by supporting this motion.

Councillor Deborah Roberts suggested that this was a pointless motion which would not change anything and that it would be more appropriate if individual councillors contacted their MP. She lamented the lack of supporting information and asked what the financial implications of agreeing the motion would be. She stated that fortunately the number of Covid cases appeared to be dropping.

Councillor Nigel Cathcart supported the motion, which argued for the retention of a vital safety net for the most vulnerable. He suggested that an increase in taxation could cover any increase in costs.

Councillor Dr Sollom explained that the Council had a responsibility to make representations to Government on matters of vital importance. The cost was £6 billion and was affordable.

A vote was taken and with one abstention (Councillor Deborah Roberts), Council by affirmation

Agreed the following motion

Council strongly disapproves of the decision of the Government to remove the ‘temporary’ uplift in Universal Credit on 1st October.

Council agrees with the former leader of the Conservative Party and architect of Universal Credit, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and five of his ministerial successors at the Department for Work and Pensions (Stephen Crabb, Damian Green, David Gauke, Esther McVey and Amber Rudd) that a failure to keep the uplift in place would 'damage living standards, health and opportunities [for those that] need our support most as we emerge from the pandemic […] and the extra £20 [... ] has been essential in allowing people to live with dignity’.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to request that the uplift be incorporated permanently into Universal Credit.