Motion from Councillor M Mullaney, seconded by Councillor Bools
“The two-child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative government in 2017 and is supported by the current Labour government. It prevents families from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children in the household.
Council notes the recent research conducted by the End Child Poverty Coalition which has found that:
· 1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. That is roughly one in ten children in the UK
· In 2023/24, the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year
· There is a strong correlation between families affected by the two-child limit and those who are living in poverty
· Scrapping the two-child limit would lift 250,000 children out of poverty overnight, and significantly reduce the level of poverty that a further 850,000 children live in
· Scrapping the two-child limit would cost £1.3 billion, however it is estimated that child poverty costs the economy £39 billion each year.
In Hinckley & Bosworth, 1,680 children in 470 households are currently affected by the two-child limit to benefit payments. That is 7% of all children in the authority area. At the same time, 6, 427 local children are living in poverty.
Council strongly believes that the two-child limit to benefit payments is a cruel and armful policy that should be scrapped. Research from the University of York has shown its introduction has had no positive impacts on employment and earnings. Instead, it has dragged thousands of local families into poverty.
Council notes the Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed the two-child limit to benefit payments since it was introduced – calling for it to be axed in their 2017, 2019 and 2024 manifestos. Council notes with concern the stance of the Labour government which is committed to keeping the cap – going as far as suspending the whip from MPs who rebel against this position.
Council resolves to:
· Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s strong belief that the two-child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped, which would help 1,680 children living in Hinckley & Bosworth
· Ensure the number of children a family has is considered when a hardship grant is given out by the council”.
Minutes:
Councillor M Mullaney, seconded by Councillor Bools, proposed the following motion:
“The two-child limit to benefit payments was introduced by the Conservative government in 2017 and is supported by the current Labour government. It prevents families from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children in the household.
Council notes the recent research conducted by the End Child Poverty Coalition which has found that:
· 1.5 million children in the UK live in households subject to the two-child limit on benefit payments. That is roughly one in ten children in the UK
· In 2023/24, the two-child limit cost families up to £3,235 per child each year
· There is a strong correlation between families affected by the two-child limit and those who are living in poverty
· Scrapping the two-child limit would lift 250,000 children out of poverty overnight, and significantly reduce the level of poverty that a further 850,000 children live in
· Scrapping the two-child limit would cost £1.3 billion, however it is estimated that child poverty costs the economy £39 billion each year.
In Hinckley & Bosworth, 1,680 children in 470 households are currently affected by the two-child limit to benefit payments. That is 7% of all children in the authority area. At the same time, 6, 427 local children are living in poverty.
Council strongly believes that the two-child limit to benefit payments is a cruel and armful policy that should be scrapped. Research from the University of York has shown its introduction has had no positive impacts on employment and earnings. Instead, it has dragged thousands of local families into poverty.
Council notes the Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed the two-child limit to benefit payments since it was introduced – calling for it to be axed in their 2017, 2019 and 2024 manifestos. Council notes with concern the stance of the Labour government which is committed to keeping the cap – going as far as suspending the whip from MPs who rebel against this position.
Council resolves to:
· Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s strong belief that the two-child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped, which would help 1,680 children living in Hinckley & Bosworth
· Ensure the number of children a family has is considered when a hardship grant is given out by the council”.
During debate, the matter of balancing financial concerns with the risk of child poverty was highlighted.
Councillor Bray along with eight further members stood to request voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was taken as follows:
Councillors Bools, Bray, Cartwright, J Crooks, W Crooks, Flemming, Gibbens, Green, Hodgkins, Lynch, L Mullaney, M Mullaney, Pendlebury, Webber-Jones, Weightman and Williams voted FOR the motion (16);
Councillors Allen, Harris, Lambert, O’Shea and Surtees abstained from voting.
The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was
RESOLVED –
(i) The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister indicating Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s strong belief that the two-child limit to benefit payments should be scrapped, which would help 1,680 children living in Hinckley & Bosworth;
(ii) Officers be requested to ensure that the number of children a family has is considered when a hardship grant is given out.