Agenda item

In accordance with Rule No. 13.1, Councillor P. Peacock will move and Councillor Mrs D. Cumberlidge will second a motion to the following effect:

“The Council notes that:

·         The ‘uplift’ to Universal Credit of £20 per week (£86.67 per month) is scheduled to end on 6 October 2021;

·         The latest figures show that 5.9 million people in the United Kingdom claim Universal Credit, up from 3 million claimants before the Covid pandemic;

·         Nationally the withdrawal of the ‘uplift’ will affect six in every ten single parent families and that 40% of all claimants are in work;

·         Here in Newark and Sherwood 9045 people currently claim Universal Credit, before the COVID pandemic that number was 4363, a rise of 107%;

·         Currently Newark and Sherwood District Council has 2056 claims for Council Tax support from Universal Credit Claimants, before the Covid pandemic that number was 1330, a rise of 55%; and

·         Current price inflation, food shortages and increasing energy bills disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes in Newark and Sherwood and the United Kingdom as a whole.

Therefore, Newark and Sherwood District Council shall write to the Prime Minister urging that the £20 ‘uplift’ in Universal Credit be maintained/re-instated to enable Universal Credit claimants to adapt to the recent increased costs of living.”

In accordance with Rule No. 13.1, Councillor P. Peacock moved and Councillor Mrs D. Cumberlidge seconded a motion to the following effect:

“The Council notes that:

·      The ‘uplift’ to Universal Credit of £20 per week (£86.67 per month) is scheduled to end on 6 October 2021;

·      The latest figures show that 5.9 million people in the United Kingdom claim Universal Credit, up from 3 million claimants before the Covid pandemic;

·      Nationally the withdrawal of the ‘uplift’ will affect six in every ten single parent families and that 40% of all claimants are in work;

·      Here in Newark and Sherwood 9045 people currently claim Universal Credit, before the COVID pandemic that number was 4363, a rise of 107%;

·      Currently Newark and Sherwood District Council has 2056 claims for Council Tax support from Universal Credit Claimants, before the Covid pandemic that number was 1330, a rise of 55%; and

·      Current price inflation, food shortages and increasing energy bills disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes in Newark and Sherwood and the United Kingdom as a whole.

Therefore, Newark and Sherwood District Council shall write to the Prime Minister urging that the £20 ‘uplift’ in Universal Credit be maintained/reinstated to enable Universal Credit claimants to adapt to the recent increased costs of living.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 26.4, Councillor D. Lloyd moved and Councillor K. Girling seconded an amendment to the motion to change the wording to the following:

“The Council notes that:

·      The ‘uplift’ to Universal Credit of £20 per week (£86.67 per month) is scheduled to end on 6 October 2021.

·      The latest figures show that 5.9 million people in the United Kingdom claim Universal Credit, up from 3 million claimants before the Covid pandemic.

·      Nationally the withdrawal of the ‘uplift’ will affect six in every ten single parent families and that 40% of all claimants are in work.

·      Here in Newark and Sherwood 9045 people currently claim Universal Credit, before the COVID pandemic that number was 4363, a rise of 107%.

·      Currently Newark and Sherwood District Council has 2056 claims for Council Tax support from Universal Credit Claimants, before the Covid pandemic that number was 1330, a rise of 55%.

·      Current price inflation, food shortages and increasing energy bills disproportionately affect those on the lowest incomes in Newark and Sherwood and the United Kingdom as a whole.

Newark and Sherwood District Council recognises that temporary funds which were activated during, and to address, the lockdowns and pandemic restrictions are coming to an end. Simultaneously, that funds are being applied to the recovery of the economy and to skills development. Employment levels are approaching pre-pandemic levels and job vacancies are at a record high. This Council will continue to jointly monitor the impact of changes on our residents, using economic and social data, and will apply new funds, relevant advice and support wherever possible as it has done throughout the pandemic. We shall write to the Prime Minister asking that the decision not to sustain / re-instate the temporary uplift in Universal Credit be kept under review.”

Following the moving of this amendment, Councillor P. Peacock requested a short adjournment.

Meeting adjourned at 7.45pm.

Meeting recommenced at 7.50pm.

On being put to the meeting, the amendment was carried, with 27 votes for, and 6 against. A recorded vote on the amendment was taken as follows: 

The amendment therefore became the substantive motion which, on being put to the meeting, was declared carried with 29 votes for and 4 against. A recorded vote was taken as follows: