Minutes:
The following Motion was moved by Councillor S Gray and seconded by Councillor E Reeves:
“Council notes that the Cost-of-Living crisis is not over.
Between April 2022 and April 2024 the cost of a basic weekly food basket has increased by 25%.
The Ofgem price cap is expected to rise again by around 10% in October, meaning bills stay 50-60% above pre-crisis levels. We further note that bills could have already been lowered through an adequate programme of home insulation in line with net zero commitments.
Rents in the private housing sector, where many of the most vulnerable households live, have continued to increase at a rate above headline inflation.
Council calls on the new Government to:
• Extend and increase the Household Support Fund as an interim measure, enabling councils to help those in the most need this coming winter.
• Give the power to local authorities to control rents if the local rental market is overheated.
• Bring forward a simple and accessible system for homeowners to access property-linked finance to pay for the work needed to decarbonise heating and reduce energy costs.
• Expand available funding for the social housing decarbonisation fund and so all local authorities and social housing providers can maximise their work to shift to cleaner and cheaper energy in homes.
• Integrate these, and schemes to encourage private landlords to insulate their properties to minimise the overall cost by, for example, insulating an entire street at the same time.”
The following amendment was moved by Councillor J O’Boyle and seconded by Councillor N Akhtar and carried:
In paragraph 5, after the words “The Council calls on the new Government to” add the words “follow Coventry City Council’s example and work with us and local authorities to”
Then delete the first bullet point which starts “ Extend and increase”
Amend the second bullet point by deleting the words “give the power to local authorities to”
Then add the following final sentence at the end of the Motion :-
“We welcome the announcement that the Household Support Fund will be extended to March 2025”
The amended Motion now to read:
“Council notes that the Cost-of-Living crisis is not over.
Between April 2022 and April 2024 the cost of a basic weekly food basket has increased by 25%.
The Ofgem price cap is expected to rise again by around 10% in October, meaning bills stay 50-60% above pre-crisis levels. We further note that bills could have already been lowered through an adequate programme of home insulation in line with net zero commitments.
Rents in the private housing sector, where many of the most vulnerable households live, have continued to increase at a rate above headline inflation.
Council calls on the new Government to follow Coventry City Council’s example and work with us and local authorities to-
• Control rents if the local rental market is overheated.
• Bring forward a simple and accessible system for homeowners to access property-linked finance to pay for the work needed to decarbonise heating and reduce energy costs.
• Expand available funding for the social housing decarbonisation fund and so all local authorities and social housing providers can maximise their work to shift to cleaner and cheaper energy in homes.
• Integrate these, and schemes to encourage private landlords to insulate their properties to minimise the overall cost by, for example, insulating an entire street at the same time.
We welcome the announcement that the Household Support Fund will be extended to March 2025.”
RESOLVED that the amended Motion, as set out above, be adopted.