Meeting Details

Submit report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval of the continued operational membership of a number of external organisations.

Submit report by the Chief Officer (Legal and Democratic) seeking approval to award the contract for a Mobile Hybrid Webcasting and Electronic Voting System to Public I, subject to successful testing of the system.

Submit report by the Chief Officer (Operations) setting out proposals following the outcome of the review of Active and Creative Communities.

“Council notes that the UK Government budget on 30 October made no provision for the removal of the ‘Two Child’ benefit cap.

Council understands this policy has resulted in approximately 4,560 families in North Lanarkshire not receiving a child element in respect of benefits controlled by the UK Department of Work and Pensions, for at least one child.

Council believes that this policy inherently penalises some of the most disadvantaged families in our communities.

Council instructs the Leader of the Council and the Convenor of the Wellbeing and Tackling Poverty Committee to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions today to request the immediate reversal of this policy. 

Council agrees the response should be emailed to all elected members upon receipt and thereafter be included in a report to the first available meeting of the Wellbeing and Tackling Poverty Committee”

“Council notes the decision taken by the UK Labour Government in its budget of 30 October 2024, to increase Employer National Insurance contributions (ENICs) to 15% and reduce earning thresholds from £9,100 to £5,000 annually.

Council understands:

• this decision will cost North Lanarkshire Council in the region of £11m and is likely to have a significant negative impact on organisations providing commissioned services, including Early Years facilities, GP surgeries, pharmacies, care homes, hospices, and third sector organisations – bodies who deliver essential education, health and social care services to vulnerable people across North Lanarkshire.

• the combined cost of the rise in ENICs to Scottish public sector organisations, and organisations in the commercial and third sectors providing commissioned services, is estimated to be £750 million.

Council agrees:

• recent media reports of an extra £300 million being made available by the UK Government to the Scottish Government, if correct, are insufficient to address the additional costs of higher ENICs as described above and calls on the UK Government to fully fund this increase.

• it is unacceptable that the Scottish Government will not be notified of the final position until the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement, some three months after it has set its budget.

Council instructs the Leader of the Council and Convener of Finance and Resources writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that the increase in ENICs is fully funded for Scottish public sector organisations and organisations in the commercial and third sectors providing commissioned services, and that this should include full funding for North Lanarkshire Council. The aforementioned letter should request an urgent response, given that the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council will be setting budgets imminently”