Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges across all sections of society, it has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that have left vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the crisis. Both the health and economic consequences of the pandemic will be long lasting. It threatens to compound the damage done to low-income households by ten years of austerity.  

Even prior to the pandemic poverty across the UK was increasing, particularly among low-income families. The independent Resolution Foundation predicted that by 2023-24 the proportion of children living in relative poverty (after housing costs) is on course to hit 37% – exceeding the previous record high of 34% in the early 1990s.   

This motion recognises that some temporary steps have been taken by government to support some low-income families during the pandemic but that these have fallen well short of preventing more people falling into hardship and deprivation. Notes that this support is a drop in the ocean compared the £37 billion cut from working-age and family benefits since 2010.  

It is not surprising therefore that we have seen a huge increase in the number of people using foodbanks and relying on other voluntary and community sector support in recent years. In spite of this huge level of need and rising levels of poverty, the UK government does not have a poverty strategy in place.  

It is in this context that we are declaring a Poverty Emergency.  

As a local authority, working with partners across the private, public and voluntary, faith and community sectors, we commit to doing what we can to prevent and reduce poverty as well as mitigating against the worst effects of central government policy. We are urging the government to take urgent steps to respond to growing levels of poverty across the country, whilst working to maximise what the council can do locally to address the issue.  

Building on the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 approved by Executive in December 2020, this council resolves to: 

·         Formally acknowledge the rising levels of poverty so widely evidenced over the past decade and further exacerbated by the dual crises of pandemic and recession. 

·         Implement the actions set out in the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 (approved by Executive in December 2020). 

·         Support people experiencing poverty to have their voices heard through the establishment of a Poverty Truth Commission and other mechanisms.  

·         Recognise socio-economic deprivation as an equalities issue. Acknowledging that the stress of being poor and in crisis has a detrimental impact on health, including mental health and wellbeing, achievement, life chances, participation, resilience and social cohesion. 

·         Commit to taking socio-economic status into account when making decisions, alongside the requirement to assess decisions against protected characteristics under the Equalities Act.  

·         Write to the government calling on them to introduce a UK wide poverty strategy and to urgently improve the value of support provided to low income households through the social security system, including making permanent the £20 Universal Credit uplift introduced at the start of the pandemic.  

·         Ensure that work on the poverty strategy informs and sits alongside all other work streams within the council’s (and partners) economic and other recovery planning.  

·         Maintaining a strong local welfare offer through Trafford Assist, the Council Tax Support Scheme and through the provision of effective benefits advice/welfare rights services across the borough, alongside effective employment support services.  

·         Ensure all staff directly employed by the council are paid above the Real Living Wage.  

·         Support a vibrant and inclusive economy that supports the creation of good quality, sustainable jobs.

It was moved and seconded that:

“Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges across all sections of society, it has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that have left vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the crisis. Both the health and economic consequences of the pandemic will be long lasting. It threatens to compound the damage done to low-income households by ten years of austerity.  

Even prior to the pandemic poverty across the UK was increasing, particularly among low-income families. The independent Resolution Foundation predicted that by 2023-24 the proportion of children living in relative poverty (after housing costs) is on course to hit 37% – exceeding the previous record high of 34% in the early 1990s.   

This motion recognises that some temporary steps have been taken by government to support some low-income families during the pandemic but that these have fallen well short of preventing more people falling into hardship and deprivation. Notes that this support is a drop in the ocean compared the £37 billion cut from working-age and family benefits since 2010.  

It is not surprising therefore that we have seen a huge increase in the number of people using foodbanks and relying on other voluntary and community sector support in recent years. In spite of this huge level of need and rising levels of poverty, the UK government does not have a poverty strategy in place.  

It is in this context that we are declaring a Poverty Emergency.  

As a local authority, working with partners across the private, public and voluntary, faith and community sectors, we commit to doing what we can to prevent and reduce poverty as well as mitigating against the worst effects of central government policy. We are urging the government to take urgent steps to respond to growing levels of poverty across the country, whilst working to maximise what the council can do locally to address the issue.  

Building on the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 approved by Executive in December 2020, this Council resolves to: 

·         Formally acknowledge the rising levels of poverty so widely evidenced over the past decade and further exacerbated by the dual crises of pandemic and recession. 

·         Implement the actions set out in the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 (approved by Executive in December 2020). 

·         Support people experiencing poverty to have their voices heard through the establishment of a Poverty Truth Commission and other mechanisms.  

·         Recognise socio-economic deprivation as an equalities issue. Acknowledging that the stress of being poor and in crisis has a detrimental impact on health, including mental health and wellbeing, achievement, life chances, participation, resilience and social cohesion. 

·         Commit to taking socio-economic status into account when making decisions, alongside the requirement to assess decisions against protected characteristics under the Equalities Act.  

·         Write to the government calling on them to introduce a UK wide poverty strategy and to urgently improve the value of support provided to low income households through the social security system, including making permanent the £20 Universal Credit uplift introduced at the start of the pandemic.  

·         Ensure that work on the poverty strategy informs and sits alongside all other work streams within the council’s (and partners) economic and other recovery planning.  

·         Maintaining a strong local welfare offer through Trafford Assist, the Council Tax Support Scheme and through the provision of effective benefits advice/welfare rights services across the borough, alongside effective employment support services.  

·         Ensure all staff directly employed by the council are paid above the Real Living Wage.

·         Support a vibrant and inclusive economy that supports the creation of good quality, sustainable jobs.”

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That, whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges across all sections of society, it has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that have left vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the crisis. Both the health and economic consequences of the pandemic will be long lasting. It threatens to compound the damage done to low-income households by ten years of austerity.  

Even prior to the pandemic poverty across the UK was increasing, particularly among low-income families. The independent Resolution Foundation predicted that by 2023-24 the proportion of children living in relative poverty (after housing costs) is on course to hit 37% – exceeding the previous record high of 34% in the early 1990s.   

This motion recognises that some temporary steps have been taken by government to support some low-income families during the pandemic but that these have fallen well short of preventing more people falling into hardship and deprivation. Notes that this support is a drop in the ocean compared the £37 billion cut from working-age and family benefits since 2010.  

It is not surprising therefore that we have seen a huge increase in the number of people using foodbanks and relying on other voluntary and community sector support in recent years. In spite of this huge level of need and rising levels of poverty, the UK government does not have a poverty strategy in place.  

It is in this context that we are declaring a Poverty Emergency.  

As a local authority, working with partners across the private, public and voluntary, faith and community sectors, we commit to doing what we can to prevent and reduce poverty as well as mitigating against the worst effects of central government policy. We are urging the government to take urgent steps to respond to growing levels of poverty across the country, whilst working to maximise what the council can do locally to address the issue.  

Building on the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 approved by Executive in December 2020, this Council resolves to: 

·         Formally acknowledge the rising levels of poverty so widely evidenced over the past decade and further exacerbated by the dual crises of pandemic and recession. 

·         Implement the actions set out in the Trafford Poverty Strategy 2021/22 (approved by Executive in December 2020). 

·         Support people experiencing poverty to have their voices heard through the establishment of a Poverty Truth Commission and other mechanisms.  

·         Recognise socio-economic deprivation as an equalities issue. Acknowledging that the stress of being poor and in crisis has a detrimental impact on health, including mental health and wellbeing, achievement, life chances, participation, resilience and social cohesion. 

·         Commit to taking socio-economic status into account when making decisions, alongside the requirement to assess decisions against protected characteristics under the Equalities Act.  

·         Write to the government calling on them to introduce a UK wide poverty strategy and to urgently improve the value of support provided to low income households through the social security system, including making permanent the £20 Universal Credit uplift introduced at the start of the pandemic.  

·         Ensure that work on the poverty strategy informs and sits alongside all other work streams within the council’s (and partners) economic and other recovery planning.  

·         Maintaining a strong local welfare offer through Trafford Assist, the Council Tax Support Scheme and through the provision of effective benefits advice/welfare rights services across the borough, alongside effective employment support services.  

·         Ensure all staff directly employed by the council are paid above the Real Living Wage.

·         Support a vibrant and inclusive economy that supports the creation of good quality, sustainable jobs.