This Council notes recent research by the Resolution Foundation think-tank, which reveals the number of UK households suffering from ‘fuel stress’ – those spending at least 10% of their family budgets on energy bills – is set to treble to 6.3m overnight when the new energy price cap comes in on 1 April 2022.
This Council notes and is concerned by the Government’s latest official data, which reveals 6,088 households in Gedling Borough are in fuel poverty.
This Council agrees with the well-respected ‘Money Saving Expert’, Martin Lewis that ‘it is not an exaggeration to say there are people in the country who will be choosing between heating and eating come April.’
This Council calls on the UK Government to take immediate and substantive action to support families across Gedling Borough who are struggling with the recent sharp increases in household energy costs and the increases to come in the weeks and months ahead.
This Council notes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s public statement in May 2016 that ‘the least wealthy are hit particularly hard’ by VAT on household energy bills and that ‘when we vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax’.
This Council resolves to call on the UK Government to take immediate action to support families in Gedling Borough by at least: removing VAT on energy bills for at least one year; increasing the Warm Home Discount from £140 to £400 per year and expanding the number of households eligible to 9.3 million; as well as introducing a year-long increase to corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas producers in order to secure £1.2 billion windfall from their increased price rise profits to help mitigate household energy bills.
This Council calls on the UK Government and our two local Members of Parliament to end the dither and delay on tackling the cost-of-living crisis facing Gedling Borough’s families and act now to support them with the escalating costs of household energy bills.
Proposer: Cllr Michael
Payne
Seconder: Cllr John Clarke
Minutes:
Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Payne, a proposition was moved by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Clarke, in the following terms:
This Council notes recent research by the Resolution Foundation think-tank, which reveals the number of UK households suffering from ‘fuel stress’ – those spending at least 10% of their family budgets on energy bills – is set to treble to 6.3m overnight when the new energy price cap comes in on 1 April 2022.
This Council notes and is concerned by the Government’s latest official data, which reveals 6,088 households in Gedling Borough are in fuel poverty.
This Council agrees with the well-respected ‘Money Saving Expert’, Martin Lewis that ‘it is not an exaggeration to say there are people in the country who will be choosing between heating and eating come April.’
This Council calls on the UK Government to take immediate and substantive action to support families across Gedling Borough who are struggling with the recent sharp increases in household energy costs and the increases to come in the weeks and months ahead.
This Council notes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s public statement in May 2016 that ‘the least wealthy are hit particularly hard’ by VAT on household energy bills and that ‘when we vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax’.
This Council resolves to call on the UK Government to take immediate action to support families in Gedling Borough by at least: removing VAT on energy bills for at least one year; increasing the Warm Home Discount from £140 to £400 per year and expanding the number of households eligible to 9.3 million; as well as introducing a year-long increase to corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas producers in order to secure £1.2 billion windfall from their increased price rise profits to help mitigate household energy bills.
This Council calls on the UK Government and our two local Members of Parliament to end the dither and delay on tackling the cost-of-living crisis facing Gedling Borough’s families and act now to support them with the escalating costs of household energy bills.
In accordance with standing order 17.03, the proposition was put to a named vote as follows:
For the motion:
Councillor Peter Barnes Councillor Hemingway
Councillor Sandra Barnes Councillor Hollingsworth
Councillor Bosworth Councillor Hope
Councillor Boyle Councillor Keneally
Councillor Brooks Councillor Lawrence
Councillor Clarke Councillor Ron McCrossen
Councillor Clunie Councillor Viv McCrossen
Councillor Collis Councillor Miller
Councillor Dunkin Councillor Najuk
Councillor David Ellis Councillor Paling
Councillor Rachael Ellis Councillor Payne
Councillor Roxanne Ellis Councillor Scroggie
Councillor Ellwood Councillor Towsey-Hinton
Councillor Feeney Councillor Truscott
Councillor Fox Councillor Wheeler
Councillor Gibbons Councillor Wilkinson
Against the motion:
None.
Abstentions:
Councillor Adams Councillor Murray
Councillor Barnfather Councillor Parr
Councillor Elliott Councillor Martin Smith
Councillor Greensmith Councillor Sam Smith
RESOLVED that:
This Council notes recent research by the Resolution Foundation think-tank, which reveals the number of UK households suffering from ‘fuel stress’ – those spending at least 10% of their family budgets on energy bills – is set to treble to 6.3m overnight when the new energy price cap comes in on 1 April 2022.
This Council notes and is concerned by the Government’s latest official data, which reveals 6,088 households in Gedling Borough are in fuel poverty.
This Council agrees with the well-respected ‘Money Saving Expert’, Martin Lewis that ‘it is not an exaggeration to say there are people in the country who will be choosing between heating and eating come April.’
This Council calls on the UK Government to take immediate and substantive action to support families across Gedling Borough who are struggling with the recent sharp increases in household energy costs and the increases to come in the weeks and months ahead.
This Council notes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s public statement in May 2016 that ‘the least wealthy are hit particularly hard’ by VAT on household energy bills and that ‘when we vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax’.
This Council resolves to call on the UK Government to take immediate action to support families in Gedling Borough by at least: removing VAT on energy bills for at least one year; increasing the Warm Home Discount from £140 to £400 per year and expanding the number of households eligible to 9.3 million; as well as introducing a year-long increase to corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas producers in order to secure £1.2 billion windfall from their increased price rise profits to help mitigate household energy bills.
This Council calls on the UK Government and our two local Members of Parliament to end the dither and delay on tackling the cost-of-living crisis facing Gedling Borough’s families and act now to support them with the escalating costs of household energy bills.