This Council notes:

·            Since 2010, cuts and decisions have led to rising levels of poverty in the UK, made event worse by the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

·            In Manchester, we have long worked hard to increase opportunities and reduce poverty. Despite our best efforts over 40% of our children live in poverty. With over 41,000 residents likely to be living with disposable income of less than £30 a month and a further 60,000 who potentially have less than £124 disposal income a month, the situation is acute.

·            This council works hard to support those in need and last year alone the council spent over £50 million to support residents in hardship and reduce poverty Examples include our freephone Cost of living advice line, our food support response service and free school meals for children in the school holidays.

·            The Government is now threatening to scrap the Household Support Fund in March 2024. In Manchester we use this to provide support to around 60,000 residents in the form of:

·            40,000 children and young people receiving free school meals holiday support;

·            12,500 vulnerable households receiving cost of living support payments;

·            6,000 children and young people accessing additional Holiday Activity Fund support;

·            400 care leavers receiving an income top up;

·            Valuable support to charities working in our communities.

·            This support makes a real difference to some of Manchester’s most vulnerable residents in managing cost of living pressures.

This Council is concerned that across Manchester families are living under the threat of losing this vital lifeline, and that many charities and voluntary groups in Manchester depend on HSF to deliver emergency cost of living support to families who are at risk of financial hardship.

This Council resolves:-

·            To restate the fact that political choices have seen levels of poverty rise in the UK.

·            To call on the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families and community groups reliant on this funding and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

·            That the Leader of the Council is requested to write to the Government to restate Manchester’s deep worry that this lifeline for many will be scrapped.

·            To campaign alongside the LGA, Labour MPs and community groups to save the HSF.

Proposed by Councillor Midgely seconded by Councillor Marsh and supported by Councillors Akbar, Bridges, Craig, Igbon, Rahman, Mahadi Mahamed, Irene Robinson, Butt and Taylor.

Councillor Midgley submitted the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Marsh: -

This Council notes:

-          Since 2010, cuts and decisions have led to rising levels of poverty in the UK, made event worse by the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

-          In Manchester, we have long worked hard to increase opportunities and reduce poverty. Despite our best efforts over 40% of our children live in poverty. With over 41,000 residents likely to be living with disposable income of less than £30 a month and a further 60,000 who potentially have less than £124 disposal income a month, the situation is acute.

-          This council works hard to support those in need and last year alone the council spent over £50 million to support residents in hardship and reduce poverty Examples include our freephone Cost of living advice line, our food support response service and free school meals for children in the school holidays.

-          The Government is now threatening to scrap the Household Support Fund in March 2024. In Manchester we use this to provide support to around 60,000 residents in the form of:

o   40,000 children and young people receiving free school meals holiday support;

o   12,500 vulnerable households receiving cost of living support payments;

o   6,000 children and young people accessing additional Holiday Activity Fund support;

o   400 care leavers receiving an income top up;

o   Valuable support to charities working in our communities.

-          This support makes a real difference to some of Manchester’s most vulnerable residents in managing cost of living pressures.

This Council is concerned that across Manchester families are living under the threat of losing this vital lifeline, and that many charities and voluntary groups in Manchester depend on HSF to deliver emergency cost of living support to families who are at risk of financial hardship.

This Council resolves:

-          To restate the fact that political choices have seen levels of poverty rise in the UK.

-          To call on the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families and community groups reliant on this funding and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

-          That the Leader of the Council is requested to write to the Government to restate Manchester’s deep worry that this lifeline for many will be scrapped.

-          To campaign alongside the LGA, Labour MPs and community groups to save the HSF.

On the motion being put to the vote, the Lord Mayor declared it carried unanimously.

Resolution

This Council resolves:

-          To restate the fact that political choices have seen levels of poverty rise in the UK.

-          To call on the Government to provide urgent clarity and reassurance to these families and community groups reliant on this funding and extend the Household Support Fund beyond its current end date of March 2024.

-          That the Leader of the Council is requested to write to the Government to restate Manchester’s deep worry that this lifeline for many will be scrapped.

-          To campaign alongside the LGA, Labour MPs and community groups to save the HSF.