(1)
Winter Fuel Payments
To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been
submitted by Cllr Sue Carter pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):
“Noting:
· The Government’s decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners
in receipt of benefits like Pension Credit.
· Criticism from AgeUK which says 2 million
pensioners needing the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
· The significant role the payments play in helping many older people
in Rushmoor afford heating.
· The additional strain this will place on vulnerable pensioners,
many of whom do not claim Pension Credit, for reasons including administrative
barriers and perceived stigma.
· The short notice and lack of adequate compensatory measures.
Council resolves to:
(2)
Sustainability
To consider the
following Notice of Motion which has been submitted by Cllr Jules Crossley pursuant
to Standing Order 9 (1):
“Recognising the urgent nature of the challenges confronting
Rushmoor in terms of the climate crisis, the financial situation, the economic
environment, and the inequity that some of our residents continue to face.
Further recognising how
challenging it will be to achieve the targets that Council set after declaring
a climate emergency in 2019.
Council therefore resolves to:
- Support and deliver sustainability across
Council’s policies, projects, operations, and estate, where sustainability includes, but is
not limited to, sound financial management, fair and equitable treatment of
residents, staff, and organisations within Rushmoor, and have a positive impact
on our environment and biodiversity.
- Introduce climate impact assessments for
Council Decisions on all new projects.
- Encourage residents,
businesses and organisations working within the borough to be responsible and
sustainable.
- Be open and transparent in communications with residents and
those working or operating in the borough.
- Foster relationships of mutual respect and collaboration
with other councils, public authorities, and businesses to ensure
sustainability.”
Minutes:
(1)
Winter Fuel Payments
The Council were asked to consider a Notice of Motion
submitted by Cllr Sue Carter under Standing Order 9 (1) on Winter Fuel
Payments. The Motion was proposed by Cllr Peace Essien-Igodifo
on behalf of Cllr Carter, who had been unable to attend the meeting.
“Noting:
· The Government’s decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments to
pensioners in receipt of benefits like Pension Credit.
· Criticism from AgeUK which says 2 million
pensioners needing the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
· The significant role the payments play in helping many older people
in Rushmoor afford heating.
· The additional strain this will place on vulnerable pensioners,
many of whom do not claim Pension Credit, for reasons including administrative
barriers and perceived stigma.
· The short notice and lack of adequate compensatory measures.
Council resolves to:
Cllr Essien-Igodifo emphasised the
high level of pressure and worries about keeping warm faced by many residents
during the winter months. She asked Members to stand together in unity to
defend older people and protect those in need from illnesses linked to colds
and the cold weather and highlighted the impacts for the NHS and other support
services.
In seconding the Motion, Cllr Lyon reserved his right to
speak.
It was MOVED by Cllr C.W. Card and SECONDED by Cllr T.W.
Mitchell – That the Motion be amended (in italics) as follows:
“Noting:
·
The Council notes the recent
announcement by the Government to end universal winter fuel payments and
restrict eligibility to those in receipt of Pension Credits. Pensioners on
lower and middle income will not receive the payments. Across England and Wales
the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by 10 million
to 1.5 million people.
·
This Council believes the
threshold has been set too low at £218.15 a week for a single person or £332.95
for a couple.
Council resolves to:
·
Group Leaders within
Rushmoor Council to sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for
the winter fuel payment policy to be suspended and reviewed to ensure that vulnerable pensioners are protected.
·
Urgently commence a
significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of pension credits. This will
include social media council noticeboards, targeted letters and local media.
·
Urgently review options for
our Hardship Fund and council tax support to help those hardest hit.
·
Explore keeping council
buildings including the Council Offices and Princes Hall open for older people
who may not have anywhere warm to go and maintaining a directory of local
facilities where people can stay warm.”
Cllr Card believed that by suspending and reviewing the
threshold levels for winter fuel payments it would provide more time to gather
information and assess the impacts of the current restrictions.
In discussing the amendment, it was noted that the
Government’s Household Support Fund had been extended to help those most in
need with cost-of-living pressures during the colder months. The point was made
that the take-up of Pension Credit needed to be improved, and that support was
needed to help those not yet claiming Pension Credit but who were eligible to
do so.
Following further
discussion, the Amended Motion was put to the meeting. In a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs A.
Adeola, C.W. Card, Leola Card, P.J. Cullum, A.H. Gani,
Steve Harden, Peace Essien-Igodifo, G.B. Lyon, S.J.
Masterson, T.W. Mitchell, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler and Jacqui Vosper (15) AGAINST: Cllrs Abe Allen,
Gaynor Austin, A.H. Crawford, Jules Crossley, Thomas Day, Keith Dibble, C.P.
Grattan, Lisa Greenway, Christine Guinness, Julie Hall, Rhian Jones, Halleh Koohestani, Nadia Martin,
Bill O’Donovan, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah Spall, Ivan Whitmee, Becky Williams and Gareth Williams (21) ABSTAIN:
The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Calum Stewart), The Mayor (Cllr Mara Makunura) (2) and
the Amended Motion was DECLARED LOST.
It was then MOVED by Cllr Gaynor Austin and SECONDED by Cllr
Abe Allen – That the Motion be amended as follows:
“This Council:
Resolves to:
In proposing the amendment, Cllr Austin acknowledged that
the Motion was an emotive subject and stressed the importance of supporting
Rushmoor residents to ensure that they received the support they needed to heat
homes and protect health. She commented that public funds were limited, and
prioritisation was needed to ensure that those who were most in need were
supported. Cllr Austin believed that the measures taken would help to ensure
the sustainability of Winter Fuel Payments for the future and provided a
practical solution to support those most in need.
In seconding the amendment, Cllr Allen emphasised the need
to focus on the practical actions to be taken at a local level to support the
most vulnerable residents, and to be inclusive to all people facing hardship in
the community.
During discussion on the amendment, the point was made about
the critical importance of publicity, community networks and support to ensure
that all those who were eligible for pension credit received the help that they
needed and were signposted to all the support that was available, including
warm hubs. It was advised that the DWP could help with the completion of
residents’ applications for pension credits and benefits by phone, and Rushmoor
Citizens Advice was also a hub for those seeking advice and support.
The view was also expressed that a staged approach to the
Government’s new policy could have enabled more time to help people to access
the benefits they were entitled to, and concerns were raised about the strain
on the NHS and negative impacts for peoples’ health.
Following further
discussion, the Amended Motion was put to the meeting. In a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs
Abe Allen, Gaynor Austin, A.H. Crawford, Jules Crossley, Thomas Day, Keith
Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Lisa Greenway, Christine Guinness, Julie Hall, Rhian
Jones, Halleh Koohestani,
Nadia Martin, Bill O’Donovan, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah
Spall, Ivan Whitmee, Becky Williams and Gareth
Williams (21) AGAINST: Cllrs A. Adeola, C.W. Card, Leola Card, P.J. Cullum,
A.H. Gani, Steve Harden, Peace Essien-Igodifo, G.B. Lyon, S.J. Masterson, T.W. Mitchell, P.G.
Taylor, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler and Jacqui Vosper
(14) ABSTAIN: The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Calum Stewart), The Mayor (Cllr Mara
Makunura) (2) and the Amended Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.
The Amended Motion became the Substantive Motion.
It was then MOVED by Cllr G.B. Lyon and SECONDED by Cllr
C.W. Card – That the Substantive Motion be further amended to include an
insertion asking that representations be made that ‘the policy be suspended,
and the restrictions reviewed’.
In proposing the amendment, Cllr Lyon emphasised the need to
ensure older vulnerable residents were protected from additional hardship and
in SECONDING the Motion, Cllr Card expressed the opinion that the Council
should act further to challenge the Government’s winter fuel policy in the
interests of residents.
Following discussion, the amendment
was put to the meeting. In a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs A. Adeola,
C.W. Card, Leola Card, P.J. Cullum, A.H. Gani, Steve
Harden, Peace Essien-Igodifo, G.B. Lyon, S.J.
Masterson, T.W. Mitchell, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler
and Jacqui Vosper (14) AGAINST: Cllrs Abe Allen, Gaynor Austin, A.H. Crawford,
Jules Crossley, Thomas Day, Keith Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Lisa Greenway,
Christine Guinness, Julie Hall, Rhian Jones, Halleh Koohestani, Nadia Martin, Bill O’Donovan, Sophie Porter,
M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah Spall, Ivan Whitmee,
Becky Williams and Gareth Williams (21) ABSTAIN: The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Calum
Stewart) and The Mayor (Cllr Mara Makunura) (2) and the Amended Motion was DECLARED LOST.
The Substantive Motion was put to the meeting. In a recorded
vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs A. Adeola, Abe Allen, Gaynor Austin, C.W. Card,
Leola Card, A.H. Crawford, Jules Crossley, P.J. Cullum, Thomas Day, Keith
Dibble, A.H. Gani, C.P. Grattan, Lisa Greenway,
Christine Guinness, Julie Hall, Steve Harden, Peace Essien-Igodifo,
Rhian Jones, Halleh Koohestani,
G.B. Lyon, Nadia Martin, S.J. Masterson, T.W. Mitchell, Bill O’Donovan, Sophie
Porter, M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah Spall, P.G. Taylor, M. J. Tennant, S. Trussler, Jacqui Vosper, Ivan Whitmee,
Becky Williams, Gareth Williams and The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Calum Stewart) (36)
ABSTAIN: The Mayor (Cllr Mara Makunura) and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.
(2)
Sustainability
The Council were asked to consider a Notice of Motion
submitted by Cllr Jules Crossley under Standing Order 9 (1) on Sustainability.
“Recognising the urgent nature of the challenges confronting
Rushmoor in terms of the climate crisis, the financial situation, the economic
environment, and the inequity that some of our residents continue to face.
Further recognising how
challenging it will be to achieve the targets that Council set after declaring
a climate emergency in 2019.
Council therefore resolves to:
- Support and deliver sustainability across
Council’s policies, projects, operations, and estate, where sustainability includes, but is
not limited to, sound financial management, fair and equitable treatment of
residents, staff, and organisations within Rushmoor, and have a positive impact
on our environment and biodiversity.
- Introduce climate impact assessments for
Council Decisions on all new projects.
- Encourage residents,
businesses and organisations working within the borough to be responsible and
sustainable.
- Be open and transparent in communications with residents and
those working or operating in the borough.
- Foster relationships of mutual respect and collaboration
with other councils, public authorities, and businesses to ensure
sustainability.”
In proposing the Motion Cllr Crossley stated that the Motion
had been put before the Council to help galvanise Members support and enhance
visibility and success for embedding sustainability into the Council’s
activities going forward. She stated that small measures that were taken
locally helped to make an impact on global issues and contributed to the
achievement of the Council’s ambitions. In SECONDING the Motion, Cllr Crawford
emphasised the importance of working in partnerships, and engaging with residents
and partners to create a sustainable future.
During discussion, there was agreement that embedding
sustainability in the Council’s activities would have a positive environmental
impact and help to reduce carbon footprint.
Following further discussion, the Motion was put to the meeting. There voted FOR: 37 AGAINST: 0 ABSTAIN: 0 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.