Issue - meetings

Motion Submitted by the Group -

Meeting: 13/10/2021 - Council (Item 36)

Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group - Universal Basic Income Trial (Deferred from Council on 28 July 2021)

 

This Council notes:

 

Many argue a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the fairest, most effective way to mitigate the effects of coronavirus on people’s incomes. A network of Universal Basic Income Labs has been set up and works with local authorities across the UK developing UBI proposals to address problems such as poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental damage, long-term and immediately, in relation to coronavirus.

 

GM Poverty Action: “The rise of in-work poverty in the UK has been a growing trend over the last decade and suggests that employment alone is often not an effective means of escaping poverty.”

 

UBI is a non-means-tested sum paid by the state to cover the basic cost of living, which is paid to all citizens individually, regardless of employment status, wealth, or marital status, and which has been more widely debated in recent months than ever before. It replaces a complex panoply of means-tested benefits of which £10 billion remains unclaimed each year.

 

Trafford Council is ideally placed to pilot a UBI, given its economic and demographic diversity.

 

This Council believes:

 

That with UBI so many other benefits exist:

 

·         More flexible workforce and greater freedom to change jobs

·         Supporting a caring economy to value unpaid work

·         Removing the negative impacts of benefit sanctions and conditionality

·         Breaking the link between work and consumption, thus helping reduce strain on the environment

·         Enabling greater opportunities for people to work in community and cultural activities or to train or reskill in areas that will be needed to transition to a lower carbon economy

 

That Andy Burnham, GM Mayor, is right when he says:

 

·         UBI should be ‘seriously considered’

·         Essential workers and those on insecure contracts need this vital support

·         “All people should be paid enough at work so they have a decent amount to live on”

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·         Write to the Government calling for a fully evaluated basic income trial in Trafford with reference to the benefits listed

Minutes:

 

        RESOLVED: That the Council notes that the Motion has been withdrawn.

 


Meeting: 28/07/2021 - Council (Item 28)

Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group - Universal Basic Income Trial

 

This Council notes:

 

Many argue a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the fairest, most effective way to mitigate the effects of coronavirus on people’s incomes. A network of Universal Basic Income Labs has been set up and works with local authorities across the UK developing UBI proposals to address problems such as poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental damage, long-term and immediately, in relation to coronavirus.

 

GM Poverty Action: “The rise of in-work poverty in the UK has been a growing trend over the last decade and suggests that employment alone is often not an effective means of escaping poverty.”

 

UBI is a non-means-tested sum paid by the state to cover the basic cost of living, which is paid to all citizens individually, regardless of employment status, wealth, or marital status, and which has been more widely debated in recent months than ever before. It replaces a complex panoply of means-tested benefits of which £10 billion remains unclaimed each year.

 

Trafford Council is ideally placed to pilot a UBI, given its economic and demographic diversity.

 

This Council believes:

 

That with UBI so many other benefits exist:

 

·         More flexible workforce and greater freedom to change jobs

·         Supporting a caring economy to value unpaid work

·         Removing the negative impacts of benefit sanctions and conditionality

·         Breaking the link between work and consumption, thus helping reduce strain on the environment

·         Enabling greater opportunities for people to work in community and cultural activities or to train or reskill in areas that will be needed to transition to a lower carbon economy

 

That Andy Burnham, GM Mayor, is right when he says:

 

·         UBI should be ‘seriously considered’

·         Essential workers and those on insecure contracts need this vital support

·         “All people should be paid enough at work so they have a decent amount to live on”

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·         Write to the Government calling for a fully evaluated basic income trial in Trafford with reference to the benefits listed

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED: That consideration of this Motion be deferred to the next meeting of the Council.