Call for North East Lincolnshire Council to declare borough-wide cost-of-living emergency

                                                                                    

Cllr Matthew Patrick

AT the last full meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council on Thursday, the Labour leader, Cllr Matthew Patrick, and colleague, Cllr Kathryn Wheatley, will urge the authority to declare a cost-of-living emergency in the borough. The wording of their motion is below. 

The UK has seen a collapse in the standard of living over the last decade, with ordinary working people, the most vulnerable in society and young people being hardest hit.

This is contrasted with a significant improvement in living standards and public services experienced within the previous decade. 

Steady erosion of vital local and national public services coupled with no real terms increases in wages for most people have created the conditions for a perfect storm, putting millions into a vulnerable economic position.

The poor planning experienced for the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, coupled with international events, spiking inflation, caused mostly by energy price hikes, means that many of the residents of North East Lincolnshire are finding themselves in the most difficult financial trouble they have ever faced.

Unable to pay basic bills our residents are experiencing at first hand the cost-of-living crisis.

A number of councils across the UK have already declared an emergency and North East Lincolnshire must do the same. 

We should show that, in these most challenging of times, this council is on the side of all of our residents who may find themselves struggling through a crisis not of their making.

This council resolves to:

• Declare a cost of living emergency, making appropriate communication needed to include local media.

• Write to both the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities as well as the Local Government Association confirming this council’s declaration regarding the cost-of-living crisis (and calling for a national emergency to be declared).

• Task each council cabinet portfolio holder to investigate where appropriate within their own portfolios as to what incentives they can deliver to ease the crisis.

• Establish a scrutiny select committee with a brief to investigate and report back to full council the local effect of the crisis and the impact this will have on our communities, with recommendations for each portfolio holder therein.

• Require the leader of the council to provide updates.

                                             

Cllr Kathryn Wheatley