Agenda item

Councillor James Brown moved the following motion:

 

“The Council notes:

 

?        “The Two Child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017.

?        “1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. That is roughly one-in-ten children in the UK.

?        “In 2023/24 the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year.

?        “There is a strong correlation between families affected by the two-child limit and those who are living in poverty.

?        “The percentage of children living in low-income families in Lincoln in 2023 was found to be above the rate for England overall.

?        “Scrapping the two-child limit would lift 250,000 children out of poverty overnight, and significantly reduce the level of poverty that a further 850,000 children live in. *

?        “That scrapping the two-child limit would cost £1.3 billion, however it is estimated that child poverty costs the economy £39 billion each year. *

?        “In Lincoln, 2,695 children are currently affected by the two-child limit to benefit payments. That is 14% of all children in the local authority area. At the same time 6,858 local children are living in poverty. *

?        “Most families receiving Universal Credit are in work and many are struggling for reasons beyond their control – such as a family break-up, the death of a partner or losing a job.

?        “The stance of the Labour Government who are committed to keeping the cap – going as far suspending the whip from MPs who rebelled against this position.

 

“The Council believes that:

 

?        “The two-child limit to benefit payments is a cruel and harmful policy that should be scrapped. Research from the University of York has shown its introduction has had no positive impacts on employment and earnings. Instead, it has dragged thousands of local families into poverty.

 

“Council resolves:

 

?      “That the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating the City of Lincoln Council's strong belief that the two child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped – which would help 2,695 children living in Lincoln.

?      “That the Leader of the Council writes to Hamish Falconer, the Member of Parliament for Lincoln, asking him to commit his public support to the campaign to end the cruel two child limit to benefit payments.

?      “To ensure the number of children a family has is considered when a hardship grant is given out by the council.”

 

(*Research conducted by the End Child Poverty Coalition.)

 

The above motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Christopher, who advised this would act as a positive step in reducing child poverty and was pleased to support the motion for the reasons identified by Councillor Brown.

 

The following amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Naomi Tweddle:

 

“Delete all after:

 

                    “The Council notes:

 

·       “The Two Child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017.

·       “1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. That is roughly one-in-ten children in the UK.

·       “In 2023/24 the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year.”

 

“and insert

 

·         “The huge financial failures the Labour Government has inherited from the previous Conservative administration, including a significant financial black hole and a significant number of unfunded policies and projects.

·         “The effects of austerity imposed originally by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition in 2010, which was a significant factor in increasing poverty, including child poverty.

·         “The Labour Government has made it clear that they will lift the Two Child limit when fiscal conditions allow.

 

“This Council resolves to:

 

·         “Request that the Leader of the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the MP for Lincoln urging that lifting the Two Child Benefit cap should be a priority, when the financial position allows.

·         “Conduct a publicity campaign with partners to assist families who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, which was inherited from the Conservative Government, to claim the full amount of benefits they are entitled to.

·         “Carry out an assessment of child poverty and its effect on Lincoln families in a refresh of the Authority’s anti-poverty strategy.”

 

The above amendment was seconded by Councillor Joshua Wells, who reserved his right to speak.

 

Note: At this stage in proceedings, the meeting adjourned for ten minutes to enable councillors to read the amendment.

 

During discussion on the amendment, the following points were noted:

 

• It was reiterated that the two child limit to benefit payments caused suffering within families and to children, which needed to be addressed and the amendment appeared to agree with this premise, as it recognised that the Labour Government would only remove this limit when fiscal conditions allowed.
• A councillor commented that he would be abstaining from the vote as the amendment, which referred to national politics, meant that it was not possible for him to support the motion, whereas if these references were not included he may have been able to do so.

 

Councillor Joshua Wells, who had reserved his right to speak, sought support on the amendment advising it was the correct thing to do in urging the Chancellor and the MP for Lincoln to remove the cap as a priority when fiscal conditions allowed.

 

Councillor James Brown, who had moved the original motion, was invited to give his right of reply.  Councillor Brown was disappointed that the amendment had watered down the motion, as children should be the priority and should not be placed in poverty as a result of Government policy. It was for this reason he urged Council to vote against the amendment.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried and became the substantive motion.

 

During discussion on the substantive motion, the following points were noted:

 

• A councillor sought additional assurances from the Leader of the Council that this would be revisited regularly so that dialogue remained open between the Council and the MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure this cap was lifted as soon as possible. It was also suggested that clarification be sought on the length of time it could take to lift the cap, as it was not deemed good enough that children were living in poverty as a result of Government policy.

 

The Leader of the Council, who had moved what had become the substantive motion, was invited to give her right of reply. The Leader reiterated the horrendous situation that the Labour Government had inherited from the previous Government, which had meant that difficult decisions were having to be taken. However, the Labour Party was committed to reducing child poverty. The Council would regularly review progress with removing this cap and would continue to lobby Government and the Lincoln MP.

 

Upon the substantive motion being put to the vote, it was

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Council notes:

 

?      The Two Child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017.

?      1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. That is roughly one-in-ten children in the UK.

?      In 2023/24 the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year.

• The huge financial failures the Labour Government has inherited from the previous Conservative administration, including a significant financial black hole and a significant number of unfunded policies and projects.
• The effects of austerity imposed originally by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition in 2010, which was a significant factor in increasing poverty, including child poverty.
• The Labour Government has made it clear that they will lift the Two Child limit when fiscal conditions allow.

 

That this Council resolves to:

 

• Request that the Leader of the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the MP for Lincoln urging that lifting the Two Child Benefit cap should be a priority, when the financial position allows.
• Conduct a publicity campaign with partners to assist families who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, which was inherited from the Conservative Government, to claim the full amount of benefits they are entitled to.
• Carry out an assessment of child poverty and its effect on Lincoln families in a refresh of the Authority’s anti-poverty strategy.