Agenda item

Notice of Motion by Councillor Oliver under Standing Order Number 6.

This Council notes that: 

 

The Covid-19 emergency has exposed major inequalities across the country, with children and families suffering disproportionately. Between March and August 2020 there has been a 115% increase in Universal Credit claimants nationally, and in Devon an even greater increase: 165% for all claimants and 173% for 16-24 years old. Trussell Trust research shows three million children in the UK are at risk of hunger during the school holidays. 

 

Foodbank use has dramatically increased. The Independent Food Aid Network recorded a 59% increase in demand for emergency food support between February and March 2020. The Exeter Foodbank statesthat figures from Citizens Advice show a 78% rise in enquiries about food banks in the past six months.

 

The UK Government has committed to UN Sustainable Development Goals, which have an international and domestic commitment to ending hunger by 2030.

 

The UK Government has asked businessman and cookery writer Henry Dimbleby to lead on producing a National Food Strategy.

 

This Council believes that: 

 

·         No one in Exeter should go hungry, and children least of all.

 

·         Food justice is about taking action on the causes of hunger such as affordability and availability of good quality nutritious food.

 

·         The current Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed on the majority of the City’s economic activities have revealed and exacerbated existing inequalities, leading to further unemployment and income insecurity, and more food poverty as a result.

 

·         Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, schools, faith and voluntary groups have played a key role in supporting those suffering food poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that should be recognised

 

The Council resolves:

 

1.    That the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Culture supported by the Member Champion for Equality and Diversity take responsibility to:

 

a)    develop a city-wide food action plan.  

b)    set up a working group to research and map the extent of food poverty in the city;

 

2.    To commit to setting up a food partnership with Devon County Council, city-based partners and stakeholders to develop and implement the Exeter Food Action Plan;

 

3.    To campaign, in association with Exeter MPs, for Government to:

 

a)    legislate the existing commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030;

b)    commit funding in the next spending review to increase access to nutritious food, whilst awaiting development of the National Food Strategy;

 

c)    support local food production and suppliers, so that food supplies are sustained throughout the pandemic and as a result of exiting the EU, to protect workers’ jobs, and to contribute to Exeter’s commitment to Net Carbon Zero 2030; and

 

d)    increase Universal Credit to help people suffering food poverty, with an equivalent uplift to those on legacy benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Ghusain, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms as submitted by Councillor Oliver:-

 

This Council notes that: 

 

The Covid-19 emergency has exposed major inequalities across the country, with children and families suffering disproportionately. Between March and August 2020 there has been a 115% increase in Universal Credit claimants nationally, and in Devon an even greater increase: 165% for all claimants and 173% for 16-24 years old. Trussell Trust research shows three million children in the UK are at risk of hunger during the school holidays. 

 

Foodbank use has dramatically increased. The Independent Food Aid Network recorded a 59% increase in demand for emergency food support between February and March 2020. The Exeter Foodbank statesthat figures from Citizens Advice show a 78% rise in enquiries about food banks in the past six months.

 

The UK Government has committed to UN Sustainable Development Goals, which have an international and domestic commitment to ending hunger by 2030.

 

The UK Government has asked businessman and cookery writer Henry Dimbleby to lead on producing a National Food Strategy.

 

This Council believes that: 

 

·        No one in Exeter should go hungry, and children least of all.

 

·        Food justice is about taking action on the causes of hunger such as affordability and availability of good quality nutritious food.

 

·        The current Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed on the majority of the City’s economic activities have revealed and exacerbated existing inequalities, leading to further unemployment and income insecurity, and more food poverty as a result.

 

·        Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, schools, faith and voluntary groups have played a key role in supporting those suffering food poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that should be recognised

 

The Council resolves:

 

1.     That the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Culture supported by the Member Champion for Equality and Diversity take responsibility to:

 

a)     develop a city-wide food action plan.

b)     set up a working group to research and map the extent of food poverty in the city;

 

2.     To commit to setting up a food partnership with Devon County Council, city-based partners and stakeholders to develop and implement the Exeter Food Action Plan;

 

3.     To campaign, in association with Exeter MPs, for Government to:

 

a)     legislate the existing commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030;

 

b)     commit funding in the next spending review to increase access to nutritious food, whilst awaiting development of the National Food Strategy;

 

c)     support local food production and suppliers, so that food supplies are sustained throughout the pandemic and as a result of exiting the EU, to protect workers’ jobs, and to contribute to Exeter’s commitment to Net Carbon Zero 2030; and

 

d)     increase Universal Credit to help people suffering food poverty, with an equivalent uplift to those on legacy benefits.

 

During the debate the following points were made:-

 

·        the Government had made attempts to combat food poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic but the problem had existed before the pandemic and would continue after;

·        the research on food poverty as specific and unique to Exeter would be done in partnership with others;

·        that the working group should be on a cross-party basis;

·        as part of examining food poverty and identifying its root cause it would also be the intention to look at local food supplies;

·        hunger impacts adversely on a child’s life and education;

·        the inclusion of Food Technology/Domestic Science within the school curriculum was also an important element; and

·        Devon County Council was distributing £15 vouchers per child per week over the Christmas period.

 

Councillors Leadbetter and K. Mitchell, as Leaders of both opposition groups, supported the recommendations

 

Councillor Ghusain, in seconding the Motion, made the following points:-

 

·        to map the nature and extent of food poverty in the city, the working group would involve community groups and associations, food charities and faith groups; and

·        the food action plan would need to be developed with other stakeholders and city based partners including Devon County Council and those already involved in providing food aid in the city.

 

Councillor Williams, as the mover of the Motion, made the following points:-

 

·        thanked all Members for their support;

·        referred to a number of organisations she had witnessed when volunteering at the Food Bank and the Hot Food project including Palace Gate, Belmont Church,  St. Katherine’s Priory and the Beacon Community Centre, the latter running the Hot Food project during the summer, half term and over Christmas;

·        the inability to afford to heat food was also an element of food poverty;

·        the need to extend the scheme beyond the six supermarkets currently involved;

·        thanked those volunteering throughout the city; and

·        stressed the importance of an audit process to identify gaps where people are not being supported.

 

The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.