Issue - meetings

The Council resolved:-

to approve the Annual Outcome Improvement Report 2022/23 as a representation of the Council’s contribution to partnership working in delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-26.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment which presented the Annual Outcome Improvement Report 2022/23.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve the Annual Outcome Improvement Report 2022/23 as a representation of the Council’s contribution to partnership working in delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-26.

Councillor Allard moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

          That the Council approve the recommendation.

Councillor Malik moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Watson:-

          That the Council -

(1)       approve the Annual Outcome Improvement Report 2022/23 as a representation of the Council’s contribution to partnership working in delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-26;

(2)       agree with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that the only way for Aberdeen City Council to meet its targets outlined within the report on poverty is if the UK and Scottish Government act upon the recommendations within the Joseph Rowntree Report which are -

The UK Government should:-

• Adopt the Essentials Guarantee and ensure that Universal Credit provides at the very minimum enough to secure the bare essentials.

• End the most pernicious elements of the Universal Credit such as the two-child cap, the benefit cap and the current sanctions and deductions scheme.

• Raise the local housing allowance to a more realistic reflection of housing costs.

• Consider what additional support families require in the face of the continuing cost-of-living crisis - including a focus on the families at the greatest risk, including low-income families, single parents, large families, minority ethnic families, disabled people and private renters.

The Scottish Government should:-

• Re-commit to their Minimum Income Guarantee project, including considering prioritising groups for initial roll-out or trials, such as families with babies.

• Continue to increase the Scottish Child Payment to assist in meeting the child poverty targets but urgently commit to making it a standalone payment, i.e. separate to Universal Credit, that can taper with individuals’ earnings.

• Bring forward its appraisal of the adequacy of disability assistance payments.

• Re-instate levels of social house building funding.

• Consider repeating the cost-of-living payments they made last year, particularly for families who do not have children (who will already benefit from the Scottish Child Payment).

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (28)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Boulton, Bouse, Brooks, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Fairfull, Farquhar, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McLeod, McRae, Massey, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment  (11)  -  Councillors Ali, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Davidson.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.