To be moved by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe
Seconded by Councillor Imran Khan
This Council is focussed on supporting our residents through the pandemic but also planning the social and economic recovery that we need to follow it. We commit to working with Government to deliver long-term positive change for the people of this district.
Council notes:
· The pandemic has had a huge impact on our lives, our families’ health and on the economy of our district. Nationally over 100,000 people have lost their lives. We will remember them and we give our condolences to their families.
· National GDP has declined by 10% in the last year, the biggest decline in the last 300 years.
· We are faced with a huge challenge in mapping out the recovery from here but in establishing the recovery we must build a better future for our place where more people benefit from economic success than they have in the past.
· In the district unemployment has doubled, including a significant spike in youth unemployment.
· The pandemic has highlighted structural inequalities, disproportionately affecting our most disadvantaged residents such as those living in poverty or on low incomes, vulnerable older people, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, people with disabilities and women.
· The pandemic has shown that we are only as well and prosperous as our least advantaged neighbour – it makes sound moral and economic sense to tackle inequality and poverty.
· The £20 a week Universal Credit boost announced last March reflected the reality that the level of payments was not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families' living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.
· In his 3rd March 2021 Budget, the Chancellor announced a six-month extension to the £20 uplift in the basic rate of Universal Credit. The government had previously planned to cut welfare for millions of claimants by ending the £20 increase this April. It will now implement the cut in October.
· Pressing ahead with the cut – whether in April as originally planned or six months later – would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level since 1990-91, and its lowest ever relative to average earnings.
In Bradford district we as a council resolve to:
· Invest in our communities – we want residents to see the benefit of more investment in the streets where they live. We will focus this on street cleansing, removing fly-tipping and connecting communities with more joined up local services.
· Invest in our young people – investing in our Youth Service so that it is a core part of our neighbourhoods service budget going forward. And investing in young people’s education.
· Invest in regeneration and in jobs, skills and education for people whose jobs may have been displaced during the pandemic. We will fund the rapid expansion of our award-winning SkillsHouse to provide skills leading to good jobs.
· Grasp the opportunity to build a better, fairer and greener future for the district – not a return to the old normal. The district needs new low-carbon technologies, delivery of our ambitious climate plans and putting the environment at the heart of growth.
We ask Government to:
· Fund regional economic recovery with £1.4bn in the West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Plan.
· Make the £20 increase for Universal Credit claimants permanent and extend to claimants on legacy benefits. This helps hard-pressed families and also supports the Bradford district economy.
· Substantially increase its funding for councils and regions to invest in skills and jobs post-pandemic.
· Invest in Northern Powerhouse Rail calling in Central Bradford plus restore the Skipton-Colne link.
· Continue to lobby government for more support to affected individuals and businesses.
· Tackle health inequalities and invest in mental health support to meet the anticipated increase in demands for services post-pandemic.
· Be a partner with us in building a better Bradford district.
Minutes:
The motion moved by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe was carried.
Resolved –
This Council is focussed on supporting our residents through the pandemic but also planning the social and economic recovery that we need to follow it. We commit to working with Government to deliver long-term positive change for the people of this district.
Council notes:
· The pandemic has had a huge impact on our lives, our families’ health and on the economy of our district. Nationally over 100,000 people have lost their lives. We will remember them and we give our condolences to their families.
· National GDP has declined by 10% in the last year, the biggest decline in the last 300 years.
· We are faced with a huge challenge in mapping out the recovery from here but in establishing the recovery we must build a better future for our place where more people benefit from economic success than they have in the past.
· In the district unemployment has doubled, including a significant spike in youth unemployment.
· The pandemic has highlighted structural inequalities, disproportionately affecting our most disadvantaged residents such as those living in poverty or on low incomes, vulnerable older people, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, people with disabilities and women.
· The pandemic has shown that we are only as well and prosperous as our least advantaged neighbour – it makes sound moral and economic sense to tackle inequality and poverty.
· The £20 a week Universal Credit boost announced last March reflected the reality that the level of payments was not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families' living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.
· In his 3rd March 2021 Budget, the Chancellor announced a six-month extension to the £20 uplift in the basic rate of Universal Credit. The government had previously planned to cut welfare for millions of claimants by ending the £20 increase this April. It will now implement the cut in October.
· Pressing ahead with the cut – whether in April as originally planned or six months later – would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level since 1990-91, and its lowest ever relative to average earnings.
In Bradford district we as a council resolve to:
· Invest in our communities – we want residents to see the benefit of more investment in the streets where they live. We will focus this on street cleansing, removing fly-tipping and connecting communities with more joined up local services.
· Invest in our young people – investing in our Youth Service so that it is a core part of our neighbourhoods service budget going forward. And investing in young people’s education.
· Invest in regeneration and in jobs, skills and education for people whose jobs may have been displaced during the pandemic. We will fund the rapid expansion of our award-winning SkillsHouse to provide skills leading to good jobs.
· Grasp the opportunity to build a better, fairer and greener future for the district – not a return to the old normal. The district needs new low-carbon technologies, delivery of our ambitious climate plans and putting the environment at the heart of growth.
We ask Government to:
· Fund regional economic recovery with £1.4bn in the West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Plan.
· Make the £20 increase for Universal Credit claimants permanent and extend to claimants on legacy benefits. This helps hard-pressed families and also supports the Bradford district economy.
· Substantially increase its funding for councils and regions to invest in skills and jobs post-pandemic.
· Invest in Northern Powerhouse Rail calling in Central Bradford plus restore the Skipton-Colne link.
· Continue to lobby government for more support to affected individuals and businesses.
· Tackle health inequalities and invest in mental health support to meet the anticipated increase in demands for services post-pandemic.
· Be a partner with us in building a better Bradford district.
ACTION: Chief Executive/all Strategic Directors
