Agenda item

Motion C

Universal Basic Income

Proposer: Councillor Josh Dixon

Seconder: Councillor Sakina Chenot

Council notes that:

• Financial security is critical to a stable and thriving society
• According to Trust for London, 34% of Haringey’s population lives in poverty
• Due to the nature of employment in Haringey the borough has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and has the highest growth rate in unemployment in the country
• Haringey Council launched the Haringey Support Fund in March to provide one off emergency financial support to some residents facing unexpected financial hardship because of the impact of Covid-19
• Results from a Finnish trial of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in 2017-18 showed improvements in employment and wellbeing for the group who participated
• A network of UBI Labs has been set up and works with local authorities across the UK developing UBI proposals to address poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental damage, long-term and immediately, in relation to coronavirus

Council believes that:

• This year more than any other has shown that when unexpected events take place, the precarious nature of low-paid, insecure employment is a major fault-line in the resilience of our economy
• A UBI could help alleviate poverty, opening the door to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, and liberate people from the anxiety of job insecurity through a monthly income regardless of employment status, wealth, or marital status
• A UBI will prevent the need for short term emergency financial supports in moments of crisis, such as a pandemic or financial crash
• There are many potential benefits to a UBI including:
  • More flexible workforce and greater freedom to change jobs;
  • Supporting a caring economy to value unpaid work;
  • Removing the negative impacts of means testing, benefit sanctions and conditionality;
  • 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
• This is the right time to trial Universal Basic Income

Council resolves to:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling for a fully evaluated and fully-funded trial of basic income in our borough, as a result of the effects of the Covid pandemic
• Work with other local authorities to help test UBI in London

Motion D

Proposed by Cllr Seema Chandwani

Seconded by Cllr Stone

Reinstate Council Tax Benefit

This Council notes:

• In 2013, the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government scrapped Council Tax Benefits;
• This change to our council tax system was branded the Pickles Poll Tax after the Minister of the time - Eric Pickles;
• Scrapping Council Tax Benefits resulted in over 5 million low-income households paying more council tax; 
• The government replaced Council Tax Benefits with the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), which intended that people on a low income would pay up to 20% of their council tax, without consideration to affordability.

This Council further notes:

• In Haringey over 25,000 people are claiming CTRS;
• Haringey Council has exempted 6,000 low-income families from paying any council tax using our own funds;
• Nevertheless, thousands of Haringey residents in receipt of CTRS are behind with their council tax payments;
• A few months ago, Eric Pickles, now Lord Pickles wrote in Conservative Home advocating for better financial support for low-income households with their council tax bills.

This Council believes that:

• Pursuing low-income residents for cost-of-living debt is not in line with our morals and values;
• In light of the pandemic, with millions of residents in debt, the government must exempt low-income households from paying of council tax;
• Maximising income of families on lowest income would better enable them to pay their council tax and enables councils to increase our income and not waste resources on chasing low-income households for a tax they are unable to pay;
• The Government now needs to reinstate Council Tax Benefit to exempt low-income households from paying council tax;
• The Government needs to pay councils for the residents who are exempt through Council Tax Benefit. 

This Council resolves:

• To lobby government and campaign for the reinstatement of Council Tax Benefit.