Agenda

To consider any questions from members of the public received under Procedure Rule 12.

To consider Motions submitted under Procedure Rule 10. One Motion has been submitted as follows:

No cuts to Universal Credit – let families keep the £20 increase

Aim: To maintain the income of low and middle income families.

This Council notes:

·       Next April the government plans to cut the benefit level for millions of claimants by ending the time limited increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit (and the tax credit equivalent) announced by the Chancellor on 20th March as part of his pandemic response package.

·       The £20 a week boost reflected the reality that the level of benefits were not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families' living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.

·       Pressing ahead would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level, since 1990-91, and it’s lowest ever relative to average earnings. Indeed, the basic level of out-of-work support prior to the March boost was – at £73 a week (£3,800 a year) – less than half the absolute poverty line.

·       The increase in benefits has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities, many of which have increased for families as children are once again learning from home.

·       The local economy has also benefited from the increase in benefit levels as claimants spend their money locally thereby supporting local businesses and jobs.

·       That this matter was debated in the House of Commons on 19^th January and a non-binding motion was passed calling for the extension of the £20 increase to Universal Credit beyond 31^st March 2021.

This Council requests the Chief Executive to:

·       Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits.

·       Write to both Blackburn and Darwen and Rossendale MPs and also write to Rishi Sunak and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits.

Moved by: Councillor Vicky McGurk

Seconded by: Councillor Maureen Bateson

To receive a joint report from the Chairs of the PEOPLE, PLACE, Policy and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

To consider any questions received from Members under Procedure Rule 11.

To note the final version of the Year Planner for 2021/2022, a draft of which was submitted to the Policy Council meeting in December 2020.