Agenda item

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR FIELD

 

“This council

 

Acknowledges the climate emergency our planet is experiencing

 

Recognises that loss of insects and pollinators will be disastrous for ecosystems

 

Believes that planters in built up areas can benefit pollinators, enhance neighbourhoods and be a boon for residents’ mental health.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

Identify locations for planters in Gloucester City

 

Work with partners, local businesses, and residents' groups, to pay for and maintain them once installed

 

Continue to identify and maintain wildflower sites

 

Speak to the county council and Stagecoach about installing ‘Bee Stops’ at some bus stops in the city

 

Encourage other ideas to support pollinator planting.”

 

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

 

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process.

 

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy.

 

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

 

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative government stated that:

• We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.
• We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.
• We will ban keeping primates as pets.

This council records its regret that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn.

 

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to express regret that the government has abandoned its manifesto pledge by withdrawing The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill."

 

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR O’DONNELL

 

“We note that safety around schools are getting ridiculous with drivers not caring where they park is increasing, often on blind bends, there has also been a child from a local high school knocked off his bike on Cotswold Road, because of the parked cars blocking view. We have cars speeding down roads near schools showing no care about people even children crossing the road. Therefore, I would like to motion that schools and community centres to be given the authority to issue fines themselves, and the money put back into said community - the problem is it requires a change in the law, which neither City nor County Council has the power to actually make happen.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees to write to the relevant Cabinet Member at the County Council asking them to do more to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools and community centre in order to stop a lot of the anti-social drivers.”

 

4.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR A. CHAMBERS

 

“Every elected member and employee of this Gloucester City Council – along with our partner agencies- is a corporate parent to the children in care in our City.

 

We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after in our City. Whilst obligations mainly fall under the County Council, there are many lifechanging, health and well being changes this city council can do to promote the health and wellbeing of children in care in our city.  

 

Our young people in care or who have left care have the right to expect everything from a corporate parent that would be expected from a responsible and good parent. This includes how families continue their support, care, and ambition for their children after they leave home and gain independence

 

As an adult how many times in life do you stop and think, “where do I go from there.” Imagine what that must like for a young person.

 

On their own with no one to help or advise. Just think about for it a minute.

 

I believe we must make important steps to support our cared for and care experienced children better and introduce these 6 key priorities as an EMERGENCY and to work with the County Council to consider enshrining these policies within Gloucester City Council Plan.

 

1. Make all our care leavers exempt from Council Tax up to the age of 25.

 

2. Continue Care Leavers Band 1 / Gold priority on our housing register enshrined/ committed in Gloucester City Council processes and procedures to a minimum of year 2050.

 

3. Provide specialist support to any Care Leavers facing homelessness without the use of B&B.

 

4. Guarantee Care Leavers support in producing CVs and provide access to our current available apprenticeships and available jobs in the City Council. 

 

5. Gloucester City Council commit to guaranteed interview for all Care Leavers for apprenticeships within Gloucester City Council.

 

6. To request all Gloucester City Council partners/sub-contractors and suppliers consider recruiting where possible care leavers into their organisation. 

 

We are determined that every decision made in this City Council and every policy set here considers the impact on young people in care and those who have experienced the care system.

 

This motion proposes including “young people in care” and “care experienced people” as an additional characteristic in all of our Equality Impact Assessments. This will give them a formal recognition and make sure that all decisions that are made and policies that are set consider their specific needs and the impact on them.

 

This will have a real tangible impact on people who have experienced care. We want to make it easier for young people to gain employment at the Council and to develop into senior roles – with guaranteed interview schemes, mentoring and support and reasonable adjustments made to support employees with care experience.

 

We also want to see our procurement and commissioning of our services to consider the impact on young people with care experience, in the same way as other protected and additional characteristics are and make extra effort to ensure that they can access all of our services.

  

We have a commitment to our young people. Too ease them into independence. To allow them to build a prosperous, healthy, and happy future.

 

These proposals will ensure our young people have the tools to do just that.

 

This Council therefore request that One Legal (who provide legal services to the Council) provide advice on the inclusion of “young people in care” / “care experienced people” as an additional characteristic in the Council's Equality Impact Assessments as well as introducing and implementing the 6 key priorities.”

 

5.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR O’DONNELL

 

“City Council Residents & City council councillors have noted an increase in cost of living poverty mainly in the deprived areas of Gloucester City.

 

Food bank usage has risen, requests for vouchers for food and electric help has risen as well as shop lifting and petty theft crime.

 

Daily reports from residents on health and well-being concerns are on the increase and I receive regular messages and phone calls from local residents struggling with daily life due to poverty.

 

Many of the councillors sat here may have never experienced this type of poverty and the effects on the health and well-being of the parents as well as that of their children.

 

I ask that our Council pass a motion declaring a Poverty Emergency, and look into the feasibility of setting up a Poverty Truth Committee that works closely with other local councils and the partners we work with. But not forgetting working with and hearing from the residents in the community that need this support. As sadly these are often the forgotten few who are not heard and not listened to.

 

As well as bringing on a suicide help group to the Poverty Truth committee in order to understand and engage with those who may be at risk of hurting themselves or members of their family due to the pressures of poverty.

 

This will help ‘our aim of tackling the root causes of poverty and inequalities in our community’, as well as improving the health and well-being of residents and looking to help reduce the number of people who sadly take their lives from feeling that there is no help available.

 

This poverty truth committee will help make valuable changes and new policies which will save lives and is critical to the success of our city and Council.”

26.1    Councillor Field proposed and Councillor Sawyer seconded the following motion:

 

     “This council

 

Acknowledges the climate emergency our planet is experiencing

 

Recognises that loss of insects and pollinators will be disastrous for ecosystems

 

Believes that planters in built up areas can benefit pollinators, enhance neighbourhoods and be a boon for residents’ mental health.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

Identify locations for planters in Gloucester City

 

Work with partners, local businesses, and residents' groups, to pay for and maintain them once installed

 

Continue to identify and maintain wildflower sites

 

Speak to the county council and Stagecoach about installing ‘Bee Stops’ at some bus stops in the city

 

Encourage other ideas to support pollinator planting.”

 

26.2    Councillor Cook proposed and Councillor Lewis seconded the following amendment:

 

     “This council

 

Acknowledges the climate emergency our planet is experiencing

 

Recognises that loss of insects and pollinators will be disastrous for ecosystems

 

Believes that planters opportunities should be sought in built up areas can to benefit pollinators, enhance neighbourhoods and be a boon for residents’ mental health.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

Identify locations for planters to make improvements to our natural environmentin Gloucester City

 

Work with partners, local businesses, and residents' groups, to pay for and maintain them once installed

 

Continue to identify and maintain wildflower sites

 

Speak to the county council and Stagecoach about installing ‘Bee Stops’ at some bus stops in the city

 

Encourage other ideas to support pollinator planting.”

 

26.3    The mover of the original motion accepted the amendment which therefore became the substantive motion. The motion as amended was carried.

 

26.4    RESOLVED that:-

 

     “This council

 

Acknowledges the climate emergency our planet is experiencing

 

Recognises that loss of insects and pollinators will be disastrous for ecosystems

 

Believes that opportunities should be sought in built up areas to benefit pollinators, enhance neighbourhoods and be a boon for residents’ mental health.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

Identify locations to make improvements to our natural environmentin Gloucester City

 

Work with partners, local businesses, and residents' groups, to pay for and maintain them once installed

 

Continue to identify and maintain wildflower sites

 

Speak to the county council and Stagecoach about installing ‘Bee Stops’ at some bus stops in the city

 

Encourage other ideas to support pollinator planting.”

 

26.5    Councillor Hilton moved and Councillor Wilson seconded the following motion:

 

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process.

 

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy.

 

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

 

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative government stated that:

 

·       We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.

·       We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.

·       We will ban keeping primates as pets.

This council records its regret that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn.

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to express regret that the government has abandoned its manifesto pledge by withdrawing The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

26.6    Councillor Norman moved and Councillor Campbell seconded the following amendment:

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process, however this does not diminish the work the government has undertaken in relation to animal welfare.

 

This council notes that the Conservative government has:

 

1.    Set up the Pet Theft Taskforce and is now implementing their recommendations

2.    Created the Action Plan for Animal Welfare

3.    Passed legislation requiring the microchipping of cats so they can be more easily reunited with their owners

4.    Announced that it will be extending the Ivory Act to cover five endangered species: hippopotamus, narwhal, killer whale, sperm whale and walrus

5.    Introduced Lucy’s Law which requires that everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres, which is a major step in stopping the illegal pet trade.

 

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy and since Brexit, the government can take these pledges further.

 

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

 

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative government stated that:

 

·       We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.

·       We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.

·       We will ban keeping primates as pets.

 

This council records its regret notes that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn, but acknowledges that the government has plans to take forward the elements of the bill individually through the remainder of this Parliament.

 

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to express regret that the government has abandoned its manifesto pledge by withdrawing ask them to ensure that all elements of The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill are progressed through Parliament in the most appropriate manner."

 

26.7    The mover of the original motion accepted the amendment which therefore became the substantive motion. The motion as amended was carried.

 

26.8    RESOLVED that:-

 

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process, however this does not diminish the work the government has undertaken in relation to animal welfare.

 

This council notes that the Conservative government has:

 

1.    Set up the Pet Theft Taskforce and is now implementing their recommendations

2.    Created the Action Plan for Animal Welfare

3.    Passed legislation requiring the microchipping of cats so they can be more easily reunited with their owners

4.    Announced that it will be extending the Ivory Act to cover five endangered species: hippopotamus, narwhal, killer whale, sperm whale and walrus

5.    Introduced Lucy’s Law which requires that everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres, which is a major step in stopping the illegal pet trade.

 

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy and since Brexit, the government can take these pledges further.

 

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

 

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative government stated that:

 

·       We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.

·       We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.

·       We will ban keeping primates as pets.

 

This council notes that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn, but acknowledges that the government has plans to take forward the elements of the bill individually through the remainder of this Parliament.

 

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to ask them to ensure that all elements of The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill are progressed through Parliament in the most appropriate manner."

 

26.9    Councillor O’Donnell proposed and Councillor A. Chambers seconded

the following motion:

 

“We note that safety around schools are getting ridiculous with drivers not caring where they park is increasing, often on blind bends, there has also been a child from a local high school knocked off his bike on Cotswold Road, because of the parked cars blocking view. We have cars speeding down roads near schools showing no care about people even children crossing the road. Therefore, I would like to motion that schools and community centres to be given the authority to issue fines themselves, and the money put back into said community - the problem is it requires a change in the law, which neither City nor County Council has the power to actually make happen.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees to write to the relevant Cabinet Member at the County Council asking them to do more to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools and community centre in order to stop a lot of the anti-social drivers.”

 

26.10  The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

26.11  RESOLVED that:-

 

We note that safety around schools are getting ridiculous with drivers not caring where they park is increasing, often on blind bends, there has also been a child from a local high school knocked off his bike on Cotswold Road, because of the parked cars blocking view. We have cars speeding down roads near schools showing no care about people even children crossing the road. Therefore, I would like to motion that schools and community centres to be given the authority to issue fines themselves, and the money put back into said community - the problem is it requires a change in the law, which neither City nor County Council has the power to actually make happen.

 

Therefore, this Council agrees to write to the relevant Cabinet Member at the County Council asking them to do more to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools and community centre in order to stop a lot of the anti-social drivers.

 

26.12  Councillor A. Chambers proposed and Councillor O’Donnell seconded the following motion:

 

“Every elected member and employee of this Gloucester City Council – along with our partner agencies- is a corporate parent to the children in care in our City.

 

We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after in our City. Whilst obligations mainly fall under the County Council, there are many lifechanging, health and well being changes this city council can do to promote the health and wellbeing of children in care in our city.  

 

Our young people in care or who have left care have the right to expect everything from a corporate parent that would be expected from a responsible and good parent. This includes how families continue their support, care, and ambition for their children after they leave home and gain independence

 

As an adult how many times in life do you stop and think, “where do I go from there.” Imagine what that must like for a young person.

 

On their own with no one to help or advise. Just think about for it a minute.

 

I believe we must make important steps to support our cared for and care experienced children better and introduce these 6 key priorities as an EMERGENCY and to work with the County Council to consider enshrining these policies within Gloucester City Council Plan.

 

1. Make all our care leavers exempt from Council Tax up to the age of 25.

 

2. Continue Care Leavers Band 1 / Gold priority on our housing register enshrined/ committed in Gloucester City Council processes and procedures to a minimum of year 2050.

 

3. Provide specialist support to any Care Leavers facing homelessness without the use of B&B.

 

4. Guarantee Care Leavers support in producing CVs and provide access to our current available apprenticeships and available jobs in the City Council. 

 

5. Gloucester City Council commit to guaranteed interview for all Care Leavers for apprenticeships within Gloucester City Council.

 

6. To request all Gloucester City Council partners/sub-contractors and suppliers consider recruiting where possible care leavers into their organisation. 

 

We are determined that every decision made in this City Council and every policy set here considers the impact on young people in care and those who have experienced the care system.

 

This motion proposes including “young people in care” and “care experienced people” as an additional characteristic in all of our Equality Impact Assessments. This will give them a formal recognition and make sure that all decisions that are made and policies that are set consider their specific needs and the impact on them.

 

This will have a real tangible impact on people who have experienced care. We want to make it easier for young people to gain employment at the Council and to develop into senior roles – with guaranteed interview schemes, mentoring and support and reasonable adjustments made to support employees with care experience.

 

We also want to see our procurement and commissioning of our services to consider the impact on young people with care experience, in the same way as other protected and additional characteristics are and make extra effort to ensure that they can access all of our services.

  

We have a commitment to our young people. Too ease them into independence. To allow them to build a prosperous, healthy, and happy future.

 

These proposals will ensure our young people have the tools to do just  that.

 

This Council therefore request that One Legal (who provide legal services to the Council) provide advice on the inclusion of “young people in care” / “care experienced people” as an additional characteristic in the Council's Equality Impact Assessments as well as introducing and implementing the 6 key priorities.”

 

26.13  Councillor Padilla proposed and Councillor Lewis seconded the following amendment:

 

“Every elected member and employee of this Gloucester City Council – along with our partner agencies- is a corporate parent to the children in care in our . 

? 

We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after in our . Whilst obligations mainly fall under the County Council, there are many?lifechanging, health and??changes this city council can do to promote the health and wellbeing of children in care in our city. ? 

? 

Our young people in care or who have left care have the right to expect everything from a corporate parent that would be expected from a responsible and good parent. This includes how families continue their support, care, and ambition for their children after they leave home and gain independence 

? 

As an adult how many times in life do you stop and think, “where do I go from there.” Imagine what that must like for a young person. 

? 

On their own with no one to help or advise.?Just think about for it a minute. 

? 

I believe we must make important steps to support our cared for and care experienced children better and introduce these 6 key priorities as an EMERGENCY and to work with the County Council to?consider?enshrining?these policies within Gloucester City Council Plan. the following as part of the new County-wide Corporate Parenting Strategy: 

? 

1.?Make all our care leavers exempt from Council Tax up to the age of 25Consider the viability of extending the Council tax exemption for our care leavers from age 21-24 from the 2024-25 Budget onwards. 

? 

2.?Continue to treat Care Leavers Band 1 /as Gold priority on our housing register enshrined/ committed in Gloucester City Council processes and procedures to a minimum of year 2050and continue to ensure care leavers owed a leaving care duty are given a local connection to all districts within the area of the local care authority (Care leavers under Gloucestershire can be housed with Gold priority to any of the Gloucestershire districts so if they were leaving care in Tewkesbury they are not confined to properties in Tewkesbury they can go to Glos, Cheltenham, FOD or Stroud). 

? 

3.?Provide specialist support to any Care Leavers facing homelessness without the use of B&B. 

? 

4.?Guarantee Care Leavers support in producing CVs and provide access to our current available apprenticeships and available jobs in the City Council.? 

? 

53.?Explore a policy where Gloucester City Council commit to guaranteed interview for all Care Leavers for apprenticeships within Gloucester City Council. 

? 

6.?To request all Gloucester City Council partners/sub-contractors and suppliers?consider recruiting?where possible care leavers into their organisation.? 

 

4. Explore social value measures as part of any qualifying procurement which may support opportunities for care leavers within our social value policy. 

 

5. Work with other corporate parents in the county to articulate our vision and aspiration for care leavers to enhance our offer across Gloucestershire. 

? 

We are determined that every decision made in this City Council and every policy set here considers the impact on young people in care and those who have experienced the care system. 

? 

This motion proposes including “young people in care” and “care experienced people”that this council treat care experience as if it were an additional a protected characteristic in?all of?our Equality Impact Assessmentsuntil such time as it may be introduced by legislation.?This will give them a formal recognition and make sure that all decisions that are made and policies that are set consider their specific needs and the impact on them.In this way, future decisions reached, and policies adopted by Gloucester City Council are evaluated through the Equality Impact Assessment to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic. 

? 

This will have a real tangible impact on people who have experienced care. We want to make it easier for young people to gain employment at the Council and to develop into senior roles – with guaranteed interview schemes, mentoring and support and reasonable adjustments made to support employees with care experience. 

 

We also want to see our procurement and commissioning of our services to consider the impact on young people with care experience, in the same way as other protected and additional characteristics are and make extra effort to ensure that they can access?all of?our services. 

 

We have a commitment to our young people. Too ease them into independence. To allow them to build a prosperous, healthy, and happy future. 

 

These proposals will ensure our young people have the tools to do just that. 

 

This Council therefore request that?One Legal (who provide legal services to the Council)?provide advice on?the inclusion of “young people in care” / “care experienced people” as an additional characteristic in the Council's Equality Impact Assessments as well as introducing and implementing the 6 key priorities.” 

26.14  The amendment was accepted by the mover of the original motion and therefore because the substantive motion. The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

26.15  RESOLVED that:-

 

Every elected member and employee of this Gloucester City Council – along with our partner agencies- is a corporate parent to the children in care in our . 

? 

We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after in our . Whilst obligations mainly fall under the County Council, there are many?lifechanging, health and??changes this city council can do to promote the health and wellbeing of children in care in our city. ? 

? 

Our young people in care or who have left care have the right to expect everything from a corporate parent that would be expected from a responsible and good parent. This includes how families continue their support, care, and ambition for their children after they leave home and gain independence 

? 

As an adult how many times in life do you stop and think, “where do I go from there.” Imagine what that must like for a young person. 

? 

On their own with no one to help or advise.?Just think about for it a minute. 

? 

I believe we must make important steps to support our cared for and care experienced children better and work with the County Council to?considerfollowing as part of the new County-wide Corporate Parenting Strategy: 

? 

1.?Consider the viability of extending the Council tax exemption for our care leavers from age 21-24 from the 2024-25 Budget onwards. 

? 

2.?Continue to treat Care Leavers as Gold priority on our housing register and continue to ensure care leavers owed a leaving care duty are given a local connection to all districts within the area of the local care authority (Care leavers under Gloucestershire can be housed with Gold priority to any of the Gloucestershire districts so if they were leaving care in Tewkesbury they are not confined to properties in Tewkesbury they can go to Glos, Cheltenham, FOD or Stroud). 

? 

? 

3.?Explore a policy whereGloucester City Council commit to guaranteed interview for all Care Leavers for apprenticeships within Gloucester City Council. 

? 

 

4. Explore social value measures as part of any qualifying procurement which may support opportunities for care leavers within our social value policy. 

 

5. Work with other corporate parents in the county to articulate our vision and aspiration for care leavers to enhance our offer across Gloucestershire. 

? 

We are determined that every decision made in this City Council and every policy set here considers the impact on young people in care and those who have experienced the care system. 

? 

This motion proposes that this council treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation. In this way, future decisions reached, and policies adopted by Gloucester City Council are evaluated through the Equality Impact Assessment to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic. 

? 

This will have a real tangible impact on people who have experienced care.

 

 

We have a commitment to our young people. Too ease them into independence. To allow them to build a prosperous, healthy, and happy future. 

 

These proposals will ensure our young people have the tools to do just that. 

 

26.16  Councillor O’Donnell proposed and Councillor A. Chambers seconded the following motion:

 

“City Council Residents & City council councillors have noted an increase in cost of living poverty mainly in the deprived areas of Gloucester City.

 

Food bank usage has risen, requests for vouchers for food and electric help has risen as well as shop lifting and petty theft crime.

 

Daily reports from residents on health and well-being concerns are on the increase and I receive regular messages and phone calls from local residents struggling with daily life due to poverty.

 

Many of the councillors sat here may have never experienced this type of poverty and the effects on the health and well-being of the parents as well as that of their children.

 

I ask that our Council pass a motion declaring a Poverty Emergency, and look into the feasibility of setting up a Poverty Truth Committee that works closely with other local councils and the partners we work with. But not forgetting working with and hearing from the residents in the community that need this support. As sadly these are often the forgotten few who are not heard and not listened to.

 

As well as bringing on a suicide help group to the Poverty Truth committee in order to understand and engage with those who may be at risk of hurting themselves or members of their family due to the pressures of poverty.

 

This will help ‘our aim of tackling the root causes of poverty and inequalities in our community’, as well as improving the health and well-being of residents and looking to help reduce the number of people who sadly take their lives from feeling that there is no help available.

 

This poverty truth committee will help make valuable changes and new policies which will save lives and is critical to the success of our city and Council.”

 

26.17  The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

26.18  RESOLVED that:-

 

City Council Residents & City council councillors have noted an increase in cost of living poverty mainly in the deprived areas of Gloucester City.

 

Food bank usage has risen, requests for vouchers for food and electric help has risen as well as shop lifting and petty theft crime.

 

Daily reports from residents on health and well-being concerns are on the increase and I receive regular messages and phone calls from local residents struggling with daily life due to poverty.

 

Many of the councillors sat here may have never experienced this type of poverty and the effects on the health and well-being of the parents as well as that of their children.

 

I ask that our Council pass a motion declaring a Poverty Emergency, and look into the feasibility of setting up a Poverty Truth Committee that works closely with other local councils and the partners we work with. But not forgetting working with and hearing from the residents in the community that need this support. As sadly these are often the forgotten few who are not heard and not listened to.

 

As well as bringing on a suicide help group to the Poverty Truth committee in order to understand and engage with those who may be at risk of hurting themselves or members of their family due to the pressures of poverty.

 

This will help ‘our aim of tackling the root causes of poverty and inequalities in our community’, as well as improving the health and well-being of residents and looking to help reduce the number of people who sadly take their lives from feeling that there is no help available.

 

This poverty truth committee will help make valuable changes and new policies which will save lives and is critical to the success of our city and Council.