Ahead of the Special Council meeting today on the Cost of Living Crisis People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin said that radical and unprecented action was needed to stop the destution of local people.
Said Cllr Harkin: “Nothing short of unprecedented radical action is needed to stop widespread destitution in our communities.
“We are one Council but we must be a loud advocate for workers and the least well-off. And we must do whatever we can to protect people now in this cost of living tsunami.
“We hope Councillors give their full backing to our motion today.”
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin motion reads:
“Council is alarmed at what has been described by Pat Austin, director of National Energy Action, as “war-time conditions” now facing people across our communities struggling to pay exorbitant oil, gas, electricity, petrol and household bills.
“Council condemns the failure of the Stormont Executive to declare a Hardship Emergency months ago and put in place financial assistance in line with the scale of the cost of living crisis.
“Council condemns the failure of the Stormont Executive to agree a mechanism to utilise the £300 million available to it to respond to the cost of living crisis – and demands that possible avenues to utilise this funding are pursued immediately.
“Council has previously supported demands for real above inflation pay rises for workers in the public, private and community/voluntary sectors; has called on Stormont to utilise its ability to set minimum wage levels to give workers a raise; has backed the demand for a new Wealth Tax on the super-rich and corporations; has backed the call to restore the Universal Credit £20-a-week uplift.
“Council agrees to urge the Stormont Executive and Westminster to act immediately on these demands.
“Council calls on the Stormont Executive to hold a special sitting to declare a Hardship Emergency and take all possible measures to stop people from falling into destitution. This includes expanding the existing Energy Payment Support Scheme to help those not included and increasing the amount of assistance given.
“Council calls on the Stormont Executive to campaign to demand Westminster reverse the planned national insurance hikes that will disproportionately impact workers and the least well-off and replace it with a Wealth Tax on the super-rich and corporations.
“Council agrees to utilise the almost £3 million of unspent reserve Covid savings to initiatea Hardship Emergency Fund to assist as many households as possible in our District.
“Council will campaign for £3 million match funding for the Hardship Emergency Fund from the Department for Communities. Council will campaign for £3 million match funding for the Hardship Emergency Fund
from energy companies and other major corporations operating in our District. ]
“Council agrees to immediately set-up a working group tasked with initiating the Hardship Emergency Fund and will seek expert advice on how best to organise and administer the fund. Council will ensure this funding is distributed in a neutral and fair way to make sure everyone can access it.
“Council agrees to create a section on its website for the cost of living crisis with every service provider included and the assistance they offer so they can be easily contacted.”
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