Agenda item

(i)                 Food Poverty

 

The original motion was proposed by Councillor Melanie Smith and seconded by Councillor Robin Stuchbury as set out below.

 

“This Council believes that no family or child living in a fair society should rely on food banks to offset low income and economic hardship.  These views are shared throughout the local authority and elected members.

 

Council calls on Cabinet to use its influence with national government to gain additional funding to implement the 14 recommendations of the National Food Strategy of July 2021, and to urgently establish a task and finish group with a cross-portfolio brief and including cross party members to analyse the current situation and to make recommendations of action to mitigate any worsening of circumstances for our residents.

 

As part of the task and finish group Cabinet should ensure:

·                     that a named cabinet member is assigned to lead on this study.

·                     the cabinet member receives the support and resources to complete the task.

·                     the cabinet member provides regular updates to all members on progress.

·                     the group produce a report detailing their findings and making recommendations for action.

·                     the report is completed in 3 months including recommendations for action and details of costings.

·                     the report is disseminated to all members.

·                     as part of the follow up, local members are consulted about the next steps.”

 

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor M Tett, seconded by Councillor G Williams, and accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original motion.  The amendment was then put to the meeting as the substantive motion. The wording of the amendment was:

 

“This Council believes that no family or child living in a fair society should rely on food banks to offset low income and economic hardship. These views are shared throughout the local authority and elected members.

 

Council calls on Cabinet to:

-                 use its influence with national government to ask them to consider gain additional funding to implement the 14 recommendations of the National Food Strategy of July 2021, whilst recognising that their full implementation are issues for national, not local government and would require a significant extra financial expenditure which would need to be funded.

-                 recognise and congratulate the Government on its many initiatives towards supporting local Buckinghamshire people during the current cost of living pressures. These include:

 

o   Raising the national Minimum Wage

o   Increasing taper relief so that working people on Universal Credit can retain more of their additional income

o   Reducing Fuel Duty on petrol and diesel

o   Raising the threshold at which people start paying National Insurance

o   Providing £150 per household in Bands A to D to help towards increased energy costs

o   Providing Buckinghamshire Council with £2.4m for additional Household Support. This will enable us to help with food, energy, water bills, other essential costs and in exceptional circumstances, rent.

o   Providing Buckinghamshire Council with an extra £1.2 government grant. This will enable us to pay £150 to households in Bands E-H that either have a qualifying benefit or who have a severe mental impairment. This is an additional 3,100 households. Lastly, we will pay an additional £25 per household who are on a qualifying benefit.

 

-                 and to urgently establishcontinue work on its ‘Levelling Up’ policy within Buckinghamshire.  This to include access to healthy food for low income households.  a task and finish group with a cross-portfolio brief and including cross party members to Cabinet should analyse the current situation and to make recommendations of a as to how long term changes to the opportunities and aspirations of local people can be made, and in particular to facilitate the creation and securing of well-paid employment in Buckinghamshire’s economy.action to mitigate any worsening of circumstances for our residents.

 

As part of the task and finish group Cabinet should ensure:

·                     that the Leader continues to have oversight of the development of the Levelling Up policy a named cabinet member is assigned to lead on this study

·                     the cabinet member project receives the support and resources to complete the task

·                     the cabinet member Leader reports back to Cabinet provides regular updates to all members on progress

·                     the group study produces a report detailing their the findings and making makes recommendations for action

·                     the report is completed in 3 months including recommendations for action and details of costings.  The recommendations to be within the current resources approved by council in its Budget.

·                     the report is disseminated published to all members

·                     as part of the follow up, local members are consulted, as is routine, on recommendations that affect their Wards.about the next steps”

 

Speaking to the motion, and in acceptance of the amendment, Councillor M Smith spoke of the Sheffield University study which noted High Wycombe as one of the most deprived in the country in relation to food poverty and the striking local and national figures relating to food deprivation. Aylesbury also had a significant issue with food poverty and it was expected that this would become worse as the cost of living crisis, and energy price hikes worsened. Councillor M Smith highlighted that a significant amount of applications to the Household Support Fund had not been approved and said that it should not take emergency funding to feed residents in need. Councillor M Smith emphasised that every child should have access to healthy, affordable food and recognised that nutritional meals were vital to development. The amendments to the motion were accepted to ensure something meaningful was done for the residents of Buckinghamshire.

 

The Leader stressed the importance of all Members coming together to put residents first and support those most disadvantaged within the community. He spoke of the Council being one of the first in the country to start rolling out Council Tax refunds for those in Council tax bands A to D.  The Council also had access to a discretionary fund to support those in Council tax bands E to H and who were entitled to help. Attention was drawn to the Council’s Helping Hand scheme, staffed by dedicated officers who support residents, work with food banks, community fridges and community cafes as well as to the significant financial support to supplement schemes provided by national government. The Leader also spoke highly of the Financial Insecurity Partnership in Buckinghamshire which helped people who were struggling with managing benefits, debt management and gaining employment skills.

 

During the debate, Members raised a number of issues, all supporting the motion. Comments raised included:

• Highlighting the excellent work of food banks and their staff in Buckinghamshire
• Paying tribute to teaching staff who supplied food to children in need
• Recognising community projects providing hot meals
• Being cautious of figures quoted in national statistics
• Food costs potentially significantly increasing further
• Encouraging engagement with Members who had significant experience of working within the food industry
• The importance of separating out national and local issues and focusing on what the Council could do to help residents
• The work Buckinghamshire Council already does, including the Financial Insecurity Partnership, Bucks Food Partnership, Helping Hands scheme and the excellent work on data provided by the Public Health team.

 

In seconding the motion, Councillor Stuchbury spoke of the importance of ensuring every child in Buckinghamshire would not go hungry.

 

It was proposed by Councillor M Smith, and seconded by Councillor R Stuchbury that the substantive motion be put to a vote, which was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED -

 

That full Council call on Cabinet to:

(1)   Use its influence with national government to ask them to consider the 14 recommendations of the National Food Strategy of July 2021, whilst recognising that their full implementation are issues for national, not local government and would require a significant extra financial expenditure which would need to be funded.

(2)   Recognise and congratulate the Government on its many initiatives towards supporting local Buckinghamshire people during the current cost of living pressures.

(3)   Continue work on its ‘Levelling Up’ policy within Buckinghamshire.  This to include access to healthy food for low income households.  Cabinet should analyse the current situation and make recommendations as to how long term changes to the opportunities and aspirations of local people can be made, and in particular to facilitate the creation and securing of well-paid employment in Buckinghamshire’s economy.

(4)   Ensure:

(a)    that the Leader continues to have oversight of the development of the Levelling Up policy

(b)   the project receives the support and resources to complete the task

(c)    the Leader reports back to Cabinet progress

(d)   the study produces a report detailing the findings and makes recommendations for action

(e)   the report is completed in 3 months including recommendations for action and details of costings.  The recommendations to be within the current resources approved by council in its Budget.

(f)     the report is published to all members

(g)    as part of the follow up, local members are consulted, as is routine, on recommendations that affect their Wards.

 

 

 

(ii)               Mobilise community investments to tackle climate change

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Steven Lambert and seconded by Councillor Ed Gemmell

 

“Full Council notes:

1.                  That this council noted that climate change is a global emergency following a Motion to Council.

2.                  The motion committed the Council to achieve net zero carbon impact by 2050.

3.                  The council has been progressing a package of low carbon opportunities arising from the Carbon Audit report, such as tree planting and reviewing carbon emissions among other things.

4.                  A new low risk model called Community Municipal Investments [CMI] has been developed by Leeds University and Abundance Investments platform with UK Government and EU support. This concept had the support of several local authorities including Bristol City Council.

5.                  This model of green bonds with a local authority guarantee is proven to mobilise local and other investment and channels local savings into local projects with low risk and a modest return to investors [2] and after the first issue further calls can be automated.

6.                  This Council notes that the Local Government Association presents it as a model for mobilising widespread private investment to decarbonise localities.

 

Full Council believes:

1.                  That offering local savers and other ethical investors a way to support the County’s journey to carbon neutrality mobilises community engagement in the process of change, attracts significant sums for named projects, and should be developed.

2.                  That offering security and a modest rate of interest through municipal bonds is an established way to develop local infrastructure .

3.                  That CMIs can help us amass funds on a regular basis develop a series of practical projects for a low carbon transition now in partnership with others which will be popular with local savers. This mobilises capital that could otherwise leave the County.

4.                  The Cabinet should prioritise CMIs as part of the package of investments that will create positive economic opportunities and carbon neutrality while building community wealth.

5.                  Buckinghamshire should join the other pioneering Councils of CMI in developing local opportunities for local investors.

 

Full Council resolves:

1.                  To call on the Leader and Cabinet to begin development of Community Municipal Investments for the County.

2.                  That the Council promotes CMI as a way residents and institutions can be engaged and actively involved in contributing to a zero carbon city.

3.                  Requests Officers to identify carbon saving projects suited to CMI investment in conjunction with local government, business and community partners in Buckinghamshire.”

 

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor M Tett, seconded by Councillor J Chilver, and accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original motion.  The amendment was then put to the meeting as the substantive motion. The wording of the amendment was:

 

“Full Council notes:

1. That this council noted that climate change is a global emergency following a Motion to Council

2. The motion committed the Council to achieve net zero carbon impact by 2050

3. The council has been progressing a package of low carbon opportunities arising from the Carbon Audit report, such as tree planting and reviewing carbon emissions among other things.

4. A new low risk model called Community Municipal Investments [CMI] has been developed by Leeds University and Abundance Investments platform with UK Government and EU support. This concept had the support of several local authorities including Bristol City Council.

5. This model of green bonds with a local authority guarantee is proven to mobilise local and other investment and channels local savings into local projects with low risk and a modest return to investors [2] and after the first issue further calls can be automated.

6. This Council notes that the Local Government Association presents it as a model for mobilising widespread private investment to decarbonise localities.

7. That full council passed the council’s forward Capital programme at its last meeting and all future investments must be within those authorised by full council and have a business case that meets current council policy.

Full Council believes:

1. That offering local savers and other ethical investors a way to support the County’s journey to carbon neutrality mobilises community engagement in the process of change, attracts significant sums for named projects, and should may be developed where appropriate.

2. That offering security and a modest rate of interest through municipal bonds is an established way to develop local infrastructure.

3. That CMIs can complement existing PWLB borrowing to help us amass funds on a regular basis as required to deliver existing planned develop a series of practical projects for a low carbon transition now in partnership with others which will be popular with local savers. This mobilises capital that could otherwise leave the County.

4. The Cabinet should prioritise consider CMIs as part of the package of investments alongside PWLB loans that will create positive economic opportunities and carbon neutrality while building community wealth.

5. Buckinghamshire should join the other pioneering Councils of CMI in developing exploring existing planned local opportunities for local investors.

Full Council resolves:

1. To call on the Leader and Cabinet to begin development consider where there may be opportunities for of Community Municipal Investments for the County.

2. That, where appropriate, the Council promotes CMI as a way residents and institutions can be engaged and actively involved in contributing to a zero carbon city county.

3.Requests Officers to identify consider whether there are any existing planned Buckinghamshire Council carbon saving projects suited to CMI investment in conjunction with local government, business and community partners in Buckinghamshire.”

 

Speaking to the motion, and in acceptance of the amendment, Councillor S Lambert advised Council of a number of other local authorities who already utilised CMIs to good effect and the range of opportunities these presented to Buckinghamshire. Councillor Lambert urged Members to consider the removal of the words ‘existing’ and ‘planned’ from items 3, 4 and 5 of the amendment to avoid restricting the Council on its potential actions, however the amendment in full was accepted by the proposer and seconder as issued with the supplementary agenda.

 

During the debate, Members raised a number of issues, the majority in support of the substantive motion. Comments raised included:

 

• Recognising the innovative way of investing and tackling climate change
• Concerns around the Council borrowing additional money, particularly in the face of rising inflation
• Approving the motion would allow the Council to deliver additional projects that could have a significant positive impact on residents
• The Council’s duty to taxpayers to minimise borrowing costs and to keep external costs low
• Capital and revenue budgets had been approved for the financial year as had the Treasury Management Strategy which set out rules and guidelines for borrowing. Costs of administering the scheme also needed to be considered
• Prudent financial management distinguished Buckinghamshire Council from other local authorities.
• Appropriate checks and safeguards remained vital.

 

 

In seconding the motion, Councillor Gemmell highlighted that the Council could set its own interest rate and needed to take action to address climate change now. He encouraged exploring all opportunities to push climate change back and this provided an extra tool to support the Council in doing so, would potentially save the Council money and through obtaining community involvement, could help inspire the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy of the Council.

 

Councillor Lambert concluded by highlighting concerns that the budget relied on borrowing to be balanced in its latter years and that the use of CMIs could assist the Council in addressing financial challenges.

 

It was proposed by Councillor S Lambert, and seconded by Councillor E Gemmell that the substantive motion be put to a vote, which was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED -

 

(1)   That Full Council call on the Leader and Cabinet to consider where there may be opportunities for Community Municipal Investments for the County.

(2)    That, where appropriate, the Council promotes CMI as a way residents and institutions can be engaged and actively involved in contributing to a zero carbon county.

(3)   That Officers be requested to consider whether there are any existing planned Buckinghamshire Council carbon saving projects suited to CMI investment in conjunction with local government, business and community partners in Buckinghamshire.