No councillor can fail to have seen how many local families are struggling with the soaring cost of living, whichever part of the country they represent.
In April, most families will be facing a perfect storm of soaring energy prices, rising inflation, and the extra burden of Conservative hikes to both National Insurance and council tax. Many will struggle to pay the bills – and Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s thin package of support simply does not go far enough for most.
Forcing every household into an extra £200 debt via energy bills is just storing up trouble for the future.
“It will be left to councils to do their best to step in where the Government has failed”
And even the £150 rebate on council tax for households in Bands A to D will barely touch the sides – not least as the average Band D bill has gone up by £227 in the past three years alone.
The decision to offer a rebate through the council tax system rather than through HMRC leaves many people out in the cold, and all councils with an administrative headache they could do without.
So, as usual, it will be left to councils to do their best to step in where the Government has failed and offer extra help to those most vulnerable.
Labour councils are doing their bit: from Blackburn with Darwen’s household support scheme, which aims to help families with their utility bills, to Waltham Forest’s creation of a £250,000 winter fund, Labour in local government is filling the gaps.