Agenda item
MOTION - UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Minutes:
Councillors W Ward and J Williamson having earlier declared interests in this item left the Council Chamber whilst the matter was debated and voted upon.
Proposed by Councillor Chris Jones
Seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart
Council condemns the government’s misnamed “Universal Credit” scheme as an extension of past Tory/LibDem and current Tory policies crafted to shift to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society the burden of the bank-driven world debt crisis of 2008.
Further, Council calls on the government to listen to the people, listen to members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party who see their votes slipping away, and abandon its Universal Credit proposals.
Universal credit will, for people in or out of work, conflate or replace most of the discrete benefits to which they are now entitled. The LGA shows an expectation of average weekly income cuts of £11.18 from the change to UC but with potentially devastating immediate income gaps of several weeks for the very neediest. These benefits can include those for housing, child care, disability, limited capability for work, caring, etc.
Council notes that following a recent DWP presentation, explaining how the shift from the previous arrangements will be put into effect, Councillors who attended became aware that the government’s arrangements are too incompetently orchestrated to avoid severe financial distress amongst Wirral’s most vulnerable and neediest individuals, families and children.
As the change to UC is intended to begin its Wirral “roll out” during November there are well founded fears that it will precipitate a desperately hungry Christmas-time for many already low-income Wirral residents, negating the very spirit of the Christmas message and forcing more people to rely on foodbanks.
Whilst declaring profound opposition to the seemingly vindictive and cruel speed of the change to UC, Council also observes that the measure is consistent with seamless continuation, by the present Tory government, of the preceding ConDem collaboration government’s neoliberal austerity measures.
Finally, Council notes that the Leader of the Conservative Group has already shown his willingness to make a stand against his own government when he believes they are wrong by voting against the hated Bedroom Tax. Council calls on Councillor Lewis to show similar resolve and oppose Universal Credit.
Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9 the Council did not debate the matter, and having been formally moved and seconded, the motion was put to the vote.
One amendment which had been circulated in advance of the meeting was submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:
Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist
Seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell
Delete paragraph 1 and replace with…
Council notes that the speed and manner of the roll-out of Universal Credit is causing considerable concern amongst residents entitled to help with their housing costs and caught in the changing administration of benefits.
Council welcomes the detailed analysis of the problems experienced with the roll-out reported in the House of Commons Library Research Paper of 3October 2017 as set out here…
http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06547/SN06547.pdf
Council is aware that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced some limited changes to the system at the recent Conservative Party Conference and was closely questioned by MPs in the Commons on 9 October as referenced here…
…including a question from Frank Field MP.
Council appreciates and recognises…
1. the contribution to the debate in the considered view of Sir John Major that ‘universal credit, which, although theoretically impeccable, is operationally messy, socially unfair and unforgiving’
2. the practical steps outlined by the Liberal Democrats at their recent conference which not only called for more substantial reform of the system but included these practical steps:
a)removing the seven waiting days at the start of a claim, to reduce the amount of time people have to wait for their first payment.
b)monitoring the impact of payment one month in arrears, and changing it if this results in rising debt and destitution.
c) making sure everyone moving to Universal Credit is told they can get an Advance Payment to help them while they wait for their first payment.
d)making the Universal Credit Helpline free of charge, at least until the roll-out is complete.
e)allowing people to adjust to Universal Credit by offering everyone options in how they would like the benefit to be paid.
f) putting in place a comprehensive support package before Universal Credit roll-out accelerates, to make sure people get advice to manage their money and deal with any complications in the application process.
Insert new paras after 2f
Council notes that the Government has highlighted an increase in the number of ‘advance payments’ but the burden is placed on recipients to request this. Council notes that arrangements appear to have been offered and agreed with the Scottish Government and for Northern Ireland whereby much faster payments, available from the first fortnight, are being set up.
Council is concerned that the practical problems with a system have created harsh outcomes and place cruel burdens on those needing help. People face having to make high cost telephone calls and waiting periods when they have few resources to fall back on. The overhauled system was supposed to help by helping people navigate their way through the system and help the transition into work.
Insert at the beginning of original para 2…
Council, in the light of all the concerns raised, requests that the Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling upon the Government not only to pause the roll-out and consult widely on further changes to the system but… (continues with "…further, Council calls on the government)
Deleteoriginal para 6 ("Whilst declaring profound opposition……)
Councillor Phil Davies and fifteen Labour Members rose to request a ‘card vote’ on the amendment.
A ‘card vote’ was then taken on the amendment and the Council divided as follows:
For the amendment (5) Councillors A Brighouse, C Carubia, P Gilchrist, S Kelly, D Mitchell.
Against (51) Councillors R Abbey, T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, E Boult, P Brightmore, D Burgess-Joyce, P Cleary, W Clements, A Davies, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, D Elderton, G Ellis, S Foulkes, P Hackett, P Hayes, K Hodson, AER Jones, C Jones, B Kenny, A Leech, I Lewis, M McLaughlin, J McManus, C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, T Norbury, M Patrick, T Pilgrim, C Povall, D Realey, L Reecejones, L Rennie, PA Smith, W Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, P Stuart, M Sullivan, A Sykes, T Usher, J Walsh, W Ward, G Watt, I Williams, KJ Williams, S Williams, G Wood.
One abstention – Councillor A McLachlan (Civic Mayor)
Prior to the vote on the motion, Councillor Phil Davies and fifteen Labour Members rose to request a ‘card vote’.
A ‘card vote’ was then taken on the original motion and the Council divided as follows:
For the Motion (39) Councillors R Abbey, A Brighouse, P Brightmore, C Carubia, P Cleary, A Davies, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, S Foulkes, P Gilchrist, P Hackett, AER Jones, C Jones, S Kelly, B Kenny, A Leech, M McLaughlin, J McManus, C Meaden, D Mitchell, B Mooney, C Muspratt, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, L Reecejones, PA Smith, W Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, P Stuart, M Sullivan, T Usher, J Walsh, I Williams, KJ Williams, G Wood.
Against (17) Councillors T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Brighouse, D Burgess-Joyce, W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, P Hayes, K Hodson, I Lewis, T Pilgrim, C Povall, A Sykes, G Watt, S Williams.
One abstention – Councillor A McLachlan (Civic Mayor)
RESOLVED (39:17) (One abstention) -
Council condemns the government’s misnamed “Universal Credit” scheme as an extension of past Tory/LibDem and current Tory policies crafted to shift to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society the burden of the bank-driven world debt crisis of 2008.
Further, Council calls on the government to listen to the people, listen to members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party who see their votes slipping away, and abandon its Universal Credit proposals.
Universal credit will, for people in or out of work, conflate or replace most of the discrete benefits to which they are now entitled. The LGA shows an expectation of average weekly income cuts of £11.18 from the change to UC but with potentially devastating immediate income gaps of several weeks for the very neediest. These benefits can include those for housing, child care, disability, limited capability for work, caring, etc.
Council notes that following a recent DWP presentation, explaining how the shift from the previous arrangements will be put into effect, Councillors who attended became aware that the government’s arrangements are too incompetently orchestrated to avoid severe financial distress amongst Wirral’s most vulnerable and neediest individuals, families and children.
As the change to UC is intended to begin its Wirral “roll out” during November there are well founded fears that it will precipitate a desperately hungry Christmas-time for many already low-income Wirral residents, negating the very spirit of the Christmas message and forcing more people to rely on foodbanks.
Whilst declaring profound opposition to the seemingly vindictive and cruel speed of the change to UC, Council also observes that the measure is consistent with seamless continuation, by the present Tory government, of the preceding ConDem collaboration government’s neoliberal austerity measures.
Finally, Council notes that the Leader of the Conservative Group has already shown his willingness to make a stand against his own government when he believes they are wrong by voting against the hated Bedroom Tax. Council calls on Councillor Lewis to show similar resolve and oppose Universal Credit.