Issue - meetings

To debate the following motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be debated in the order submitted).

Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to motions is noon on Thursday 17 October 2024. No amendments will be permitted after this deadline.

Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 18 October 2024. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

Resolved

(1)            That the following motion be adopted:

Winter Fuel Payments

“This Council deplores the government’s precipitous decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs) ahead of its budget on 30 October 2024.  

Age UK estimates that the government’s changes to WFPs could adversely affect as many as two million pensioners across the country, many of whom need support to stay warm this winter. In the Banbury constituency alone, 17,638 pensioners are set to be affected by the decision.

This Council resolves to request that:

(i)              the Executive launch a countywide awareness campaign working with our fellow City and District Councils, Oxfordshire County Council, local NHS partners, and charitable, civic and religious groups, to encourage elderly residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they continue to receive WFPs this Winter;

(ii)             the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the government’s decision to means-test WFPs without public consultation and asking HM Treasury to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under current thresholds are protected from fuel poverty in her forthcoming budget; and

(iii)           the Executive builds on the Council’s notable successes in tackling food insecurity and providing community food grants by prioritising monies within its current and/or the 2025/6 budget to ensure that pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not otherwise eligible for other government support, are helped through the Winter.”

(2)            That the following motion be adopted:

‘Primary Care’ health services across North Oxfordshire

“This Council recognises the need to improve ‘Primary Care’ health services across North Oxfordshire.

Primary Care expansion is the remit of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System Board (‘BOBICS’) whose Primary Care Estates Strategy acknowledges the scale of developer contributions that are available to support such vital public services.

Regrettably, since the adoption of the Supplementary Planning Document in 2018, it is estimated that only 15% of funds available have been requested and secured within the Cherwell District Council area. This must improve.

Accordingly, this Council request that its Leader writes to the Chief Executive of BOBICS, copied to its Place Director for Oxfordshire and its Senior Primary Care Estate Manager, to request that it:

(i)              more consistently requests developer contributions on all planning applications of 10 or more dwellings;

(ii)             considers using this funding in part for ICT Infrastructure to support primary care expansion;

(iii)           work more closely with this Council to ensure the release the s.106 contributions currently allocated to, or held by, Cherwell District Council; and

(iv)           works with this Council on both its Local Plan review, the Community Infrastructure Levy consultation and its review of the Supplementary Planning Document to ensure better and more coordinated provision of vital health services.

This Council further calls on its Leader to request a meeting between BOBICS and Leaders of all political groups and Officers  ...  view the full decision text for item 37

The Chairman advised that five motions had been submitted. No amendments

to any of the motions had been submitted. In line with the Constitution, no amendments were now permitted.

Motion One: Winter Fuel Payments

It was proposed by Councillor Reeves and seconded by Councillor Mallon that the following motion be adopted:

“This Council deplores the government’s precipitous decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs) ahead of its budget on 30 October 2024.  

Age UK estimates that the government’s changes to WFPs could adversely affect as many as two million pensioners across the country, many of whom need support to stay warm this winter. In the Banbury constituency alone, 17,638 pensioners are set to be affected by the decision.

This Council resolves to request that:

(i)           the Executive launch a countywide awareness campaign working with our fellow City and District Councils, Oxfordshire County Council, local NHS partners, and charitable, civic and religious groups, to encourage elderly residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they continue to receive WFPs this Winter;

(ii)          the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the government’s decision to means-test WFPs without public consultation and asking HM Treasury to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under current thresholds are protected from fuel poverty in her forthcoming budget; and

(iii)         the Executive builds on the Council’s notable successes in tackling food insecurity and providing community food grants by prioritising monies within its current and/or the 2025/6 budget to ensure that pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not otherwise eligible for other government support, are helped through the Winter.”

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted. On being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously.

Motion Two: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

It was proposed by Councillor McHugh and seconded by Councillor Mallon that the following motion be adopted:

“This Council proudly holds the silver level award for the Defence Employers’ Recognition Scheme, known as the Armed Forces Covenant.

In this year’s King’s Speech, the Prime Minister set out measures to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (‘the Act’). The Act afforded members of British Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland the same protection from prosecution as that given to convicted terrorists and those on the run.

Protection from prosecution was granted to convicted terrorists and 'on the run' terrorists by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and then-Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

In interviews given by Sir Keir Starmer prior to the General Election, he made it clear that he does not believe British Service personnel should have immunity for prosecution and that convicted and 'on the run' paramilitaries should continue to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37