The looming cost of living crisis is leaving people “teetering on the edge of catastrophe” according to a Sefton council cabinet member.
Cabinet member for communities and housing Cllr Trish Hardy made the comments during a meeting held at Southport town hall this morning, September 1.
Members of Sefton Council’s cabinet met to discuss a “shocking” and “heartbreaking” report into the impacts of the cost of living crisis on residents in the borough.
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The report, which was released last week, detailed how schools were expecting some children to turn up “poorly nourished” after the summer holidays, with many families in the borough already facing challenging conditions.
With energy and food prices set to soar this winter, the report stated that things looked set to get much more difficult for many, with families facing the stark choice between “heating or eating” and many lacking the ability to buy items such as warmer blankets as mitigation.
Presenting the report, Cllr Hardy said: “I’m shocked and heartbroken that Sefton Council has this report on the agenda today.
“For years we have worked hard to mitigate Government policy that has hurt our communities – whether that has been the roll out of universal credit and the system failings leading us to support a network of food banks across the Borough, the systematic cuts in funding to public services, an NHS service in crisis that relies on our social services provision and of course supporting the most vulnerable children in this Borough.”
Cllr Hardy said the government’s safety net had “more holes than net.”
She added: ”The social security framework and welfare state in this country has been hollowed out – expecting people to survive on low paid, long hours with no protection and nothing more than a zero-hour contract.
“Incomes and prospects have been routinely downgraded – not matching prices and bills.”
Referring to the cost of living crisis, Cllr Hardy said: “We use the word crisis a lot in the UK – I feel we are teetering on the edge of a catastrophe.
“Some of the families and residents of this borough cannot withstand this storm being unleashed on them.”
With the huge increase in energy bills due in October, Cllr Hardy said the price hikes included “eye watering figures” with the steep increases set to affect “all but the most affluent.”
Cllr Hardy continued: “Let’s not forget these so-called caps are no such thing – many households in Sefton will face bills much higher – not because of posh houses but because families with disabilities, babies living in poorly insulated homes will have to spend more to heat badly insulted homes.”
For many, she said the rises are “unthinkable” adding hugely to a burden faced by the 58,000 Sefton residents living in the borough’s poorest areas.
In the light of the pressures people are facing, Cllr Hardy said it was “vital” for the council and partners to work together to support people.
Measures Sefton Council plan to take include the development of a dedicated web page to help signpost people to support and the production of a leaflet giving advice and information to residents.
Cabinet members agreed the council should also continue working with partners to reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis and lobby the government for intervention and policy changes.
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