Decision details

Resolved

(1)          That the following motion be adopted:

“The long-term effects of the COVID pandemic, spiralling inflation and stagnant wages are leaving many adults and children across our communities hungry. Over 2m people in the UK are now reliant on food banks.

Many residents throughout Cherwell are facing the terrible choice of heating or eating. The situation this coming winter is set to get worse. Fuel bills and the cost of food are both likely to increase again in the autumn. The knock-on effects on declining mental health will increase the burden on the NHS.

This Council acknowledges the suffering of residents struggling to feed themselves and their families and declares a Food Poverty Emergency.

We commit to:

-        Designating a Food Champion: a lead member for food poverty at Cherwell District Council

-        Establishing and reporting to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the scale of the food poverty crisis in Cherwell

-        Drawing up a Cherwell Food Action Plan that supports local communities in helping to relieve the food poverty emergency, in line with the new countywide food strategy

-        Developing a promotional campaign that raises awareness of underclaimed Healthy Start food vouchers

-        Supporting local communities to reduce food waste and improve the food choices of residents and continuing to be an active member of the Cherwell Community Food Network."

(2)          That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

“We recognise the need to continue to support our communities at a time when the cost of living is increasing. We would like to thank our staff for ensuring that £6.7m of the £7.7m of Government funded resources, through the Council Tax Rebate Scheme, has already been provided to support our residents.

We will continue to work closely with the Government and the Leader of the Council will write to the  Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, requesting a meeting to discuss:

1.    Subsidy for bus and train travel, to ensure people can travel affordably and sustainably

2.    A review of the energy cap to cover all types of domestic fuels and provide protection to SMEs.

3.    Expansion of the coverage of the Rural Fuel Duty Rate Relief.

4.    Additional financial support for councils to aid the most vulnerable.

5.    Increasing investment in UK renewables to decarbonise the energy sector and prevent a future energy fuelled cost of living crisis.”

(3)          That the following motion, as amended, be adopted:

"The UK government response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis has been criticised for its slow start and unnecessary bureaucracy at a time of extreme stress for people fleeing war. Local authorities, already dealing with the fallout from the pandemic and the emerging cost of living crisis, are on the frontline of sorting out the issues from the Homes for Ukraine scheme. 

Nevertheless, the generosity of our residents and the dedication and hard work of our staff  has ensured that hundreds of guests have been placed safely with hosts in Cherwell. There is  uncertainty about the longer-term prospects for refugees while the conflict in Ukraine continues. 

Reports from groups like Opora show that the likelihood of refugees becoming renters in the private sector is unlikely based on the documentation requirements from landlords and letting agents. This places a huge additional pressure on social housing availability. This is a problem that may impact all refugees. 

This Council therefore re-affirms its commitment to welcoming refugees and working in partnership with other agencies and organisations to provide longer term stability for all refugees in Cherwell and calls on the Leader to write urgently to Lord Harrington, Minister for Refugees, offering an invitation to Cherwell  to show how beneficial partnership working can be in resolving issues.  We  also request reassurance on long-term  funding packages, delivering parity for refugees from different countries alongside national guidance to private landlords regarding letting properties  to refugees  and so prevent a major housing crisis.” 

(For information, following debate of the Campsfield House, Kidlington motion, on being put to the vote the motion was lost and subsequently fell)