Councillors from all sides of the chamber unanimously backed measures to help the Isle of Wight and its residents cope with the cost of living crisis.
Through a motion, submitted by Labour Councillor Richard Quigley, the Council will now do more as it is ‘time for action, not words.’
It comes, as according to Councillor Quigley, more than half of Island households will be under food or energy stress this winter.
In it, he asked the authority to:
- Work with partners to provide a coordinated approach to address the emergency
- Set up a dedicated officer working group to address the issues
- Call on Parliament to ensure a right to food is written into law
- Free up money to target help through community groups and make it easier for groups to access any funding
- Ensure all council decisions do not disproportionately impact residents who are struggling the most by considering the socio-economic impact in our assessment of actions we need to take
- Champion a real living wage for all workers
- Commit all 39 councillors to work together on the cost of living emergency for the benefit of the Island and its residents.
Councillor Michael Lilley, who had asked the council to declare a cost of living emergency, said it needed to do everything it could to ensure those who were the most vulnerable got the support they need.
Having grown up in poverty, Councillor Andrew Garratt, said he knew how hard it was for a family to experience but urged the council to speak to those currently in poverty and hear their voices.
He said what happens over the winter and through to next year will be a crisis, and for some, chronic, with them having to live with the effects of this for the rest of their lives.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon agreed with the motion but said the council must think carefully to bring forward the actions, to properly consider the points, instead of just paying them lip service.
In the last week, the council has launched its cost of living support website, containing advice, a list of the warm spaces on the Island and how to access food if needed. It can be viewed here: www.beta.iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/cost-of-living/
Bet they still put the council tax up and take hefty bonuses next year though.
Like putting up the Council Tax !!!!
the link is not working http://www.beta.iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/cost-of-living/
The Council should NOT be spending OUR money in this way.
They are NOT the Social Security, and should not act as they are, for all additional costs will be added to our Council tax, SOMETHING the recipients of all this ‘aid’ never, like their full rent, ever have to pay.
They have all been given a rise in benefits, all have more cost of living payments, so why give these freeloaders even more of OUR money.
Council should butt out of social security and charity issues.
exactly pomander….council are there to oversee the administrative functions of the island…such as bin collections not engage in giving money to those that have spent it on drugs instead of food.
socialists like quigley are keen to spend taxpayers money making sure that lowlives are catered to, at the expense of those working…does this labour fool not realise, we despise alco scroungers living off our money.
Yes the Council can’t run or control things that they have years of experience and training as it is.
Let alone run or organise such where they are out of their depth and remit
The cost will balloon and we can’t trust people who keep fiscal deals secret.
I wouldn’t trust them with our cat and he’s a Tom
Another way of pushing costs to council tax payers and trying to ‘justify’ it to the gullible as a kindly act.
We aren’t all stupid
By ‘Islanders’ I believe they mean benefits layabouts.
quigley isn’t the brightest
he wants the right to food written into law….
how about he also demands that each individual by law, is required to either pay for the food upfront, by working for the money first, or grow the food themselves.
if they can’t afford it, they go without, as others are not obligated to work and provide food to freeloading spongers that won’t make any effort to support theirselves.
A simple answer would be don’t increase council tax but they won’t think of that
Abolish council tax.
As every day goes by humans moves further away from their original hunter-gatherer role, which the brain and the body was designed for.
No wonder the NHS is under so much strain.
Stop spending our money on woke nonsense..
So don’t shaft us with another council tax rise, simple.
Yes a cost of living crisis !!!!!!
And as so many and myself have said before, a massive rise in council tax , to pay for all your c- – k ups !!!!!!
Oh and to pad out the pension pot !!!!!
Oh and cut services!!!!!
And electric car’s air con , new computer system….ooh new heating system toon the cards , led lighting ….
Yes we are in a cost of living crisis, but we are awaiting the RISE !!!!!!!!