Agenda and minutes

The Divisional Solicitor submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported for Aldermen Copeland and McCoubrey and Councillors Flynn, Long, McDonough-Brown, McReynolds, Pankhurst and Whyte.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

Motion – Cost of Living

This Council recognises with deep concern the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting hundreds of thousands of families across our society, and the rise in home energy and electricity costs, which has placed a severe burden on already struggling households and businesses across our city.  

The collapse of the Executive caused by the resignation of DUP First Minister Paul Givan is preventing a budget, or the allocation of £300m available from Treasury from being agreed and is hampering Ministers from using their full spending power to give people relief who rely and depend upon it.

This Council calls for the immediate restoration of the Executive in order to allocate and agree spending to support workers and families.

Furthermore, this Council calls upon the Westminster Government to take action, where local Ministers cannot, by scrapping VAT on domestic energy bills and cutting duty on home heating oil, petrol and diesel, for the duration of the energy crisis; introducing a windfall tax on energy generators and redirect money towards supporting families; reverse the planned increase in National Insurance Contributions; and halt the planned change in red diesel entitlement.

Proposer Councillor Garrett

Seconder Councillor McLaughlin

Also signed:

Councillor Baker         Councillor Canavan    Councillor Donnelly            Councillor Beattie

Councillor McAteer     Councillor McCann     Councillor Carson            Councillor McCabe

Councillor Maskey      Councillor Murphy       Councillor Walsh            Councillor Gormley    

            In accordance with the notice on the agenda, Councillor Garrett proposed:

“This Council recognises with deep concern the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting hundreds of thousands of families across our society, and the rise in home energy and electricity costs, which has placed a severe burden on already struggling households and businesses across our city.  

The collapse of the Executive caused by the resignation of DUP First Minister Paul Givan is preventing a budget, or the allocation of £300m available from Treasury from being agreed and is hampering Ministers from using their full spending power to give people relief who rely and depend upon it.

This Council calls for the immediate restoration of the Executive in order to allocate and agree spending to support workers and families.

Furthermore, this Council calls upon the Westminster Government to take action, where local Ministers cannot, by scrapping VAT on domestic energy bills and cutting duty on home heating oil, petrol and diesel, for the duration of the energy crisis; introducing a windfall tax on energy generators and redirect money towards supporting families; reverse the planned increase in National Insurance Contributions; and halt the planned change in red diesel entitlement.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor McLaughlin.

            The proposer advised the Council that he wished to amend the wording of the proposal to allow for the following two additions.  After the word “families” in the third paragraph insert the following sentence:

“(This would include requesting an expansion of the £200 home energy scheme to include others considered particularly vulnerable at this time).”

            To include and additional final paragraph, as follows:

“And finally, this Council agrees to present the Members with further proposal including additional resources at the earliest opportunity to create a citywide hardship fund to support those most at need at this time.”

            The Council agreed to the updated wording for the proposal and the proposer also acceded to a request from Councillor Heading to add the following additional wording after the word “families” in the third paragraph “or the introduction of emergency legislation to release the £300 million.”

            The proposal, as amended, therefore reads:

“This Council recognises with deep concern the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting hundreds of thousands of families across our society, and the rise in home energy and electricity costs, which has placed a severe burden on already struggling households and businesses across our city.  

The collapse of the Executive caused by the resignation of DUP First Minister Paul Givan is preventing a budget, or the allocation of £300m available from Treasury from being agreed and is hampering Ministers from using their full spending power to give people relief who rely and depend upon it.

This Council calls for the immediate restoration of the Executive in order to allocate and agree spending to support workers and families or the introduction of emergency legislation to release the £300 million. (This would include requesting an expansion of the £200 home energy scheme to include others considered particularly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.