By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Harrowing stories of the impact of the cost of living crisis on city residents have been heard at a city council meeting debating the issue.
Labour-run Nottingham City Council declared a ‘cost of living emergency’ on October 31.
“At Halloween, people in Nottingham are not terrified about ghouls and ghosts, but about how they will pay their bills this winter”, Labour councillor Sally Longford said.
Other councillors told stories of children skipping school lunches so other pupils would not see how little they had in their lunchboxes and a pensioner unable to afford to use her oven.
In debating a cost of living crisis motion, the council called on the Government to bring about “urgent measures” through an emergency response committee, by reducing the standard rate of VAT, insulating homes across the country and ensuring benefits are increased.
The motion was approved, with two abstentions from Conservative councillors Andrew Rule and Roger Steel.
Councillor Cheryl Barnard, portfolio holder for children, young people and schools, (Lab) said: “Teachers tell us that the number of children coming to school hungry has risen dramatically this term.
“I’m hearing of children having very little in their lunch boxes and sometimes pretending to eat or hiding at lunchtime so other children can’t see that they haven’t got food.
“Some of our teachers are feeding children at a time when they too are feeling the impact of costs.
“The stress at home will inevitably have an impact on family stability with a possibility of increased parental conflict and domestic violence.
“Children shouldn’t be going cold or hungry or worrying about family finances.”
Councillor Georgia Power (Lab), representing Bestwood, said an elderly resident in her 80s had contacted her last month.
Cllr Power said: “After discussing the original issue she contacted me about, we talked about support for people in financial need.
“She asked me if I knew anywhere she could take her baking trays to donate where they could go to families in need, because she could no longer afford to run her oven on her pension.
“This is the reality of the Conservative cost of living crisis.”
She said the “bare minimum” the government could do is ensure benefits are increased with the rate of inflation.
Councillor Ethan Radford (Lab) added: “This is a government and party so out of touch they have lost all sense of feeling.
“My constituents in Bulwell and residents across our city need action now, they cannot afford to wait.”
Councillor Adele Williams (Lab), deputy leader of the council, said: “This is an emergency, just like Covid was an emergency.
“We’re in a cost of living crisis and people in our city are priced out of eating and heating.
“All of us would find it abhorrent that people can’t heat their houses while energy companies are raking it in.
“We need a Labour government, we need the economy changed os it works for working people.
“We know that everything that comes from Westminster is to the disadvantage of Nottingham people.”
The council has criticised the chancellor’s plans for the energy cap to be withdrawn in April, after initially announcing that it would last for two years.
It means energy prices would rise again to an expected £4,347 for the average household.
The Government says it is providing support to households, including payment of £650 for those on benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits.
It said from October households will receive £400 off energy bills “to help households through winter”.
