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).

(For information: The Constitution sets out that no Motion to rescind or vary an agreed Motion can be considered within a 6 month period unless signatures or email from a recognised source from 8 councillors is received. Council considered and agreed a motion in relation to the Ukraine Crisis and support for refugees at its 28 February 2022 meeting. The Assistant Director Law, Governance and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer (interim) has received 8 signatures and therefore confirms that the Refugee Crisis motion is valid.)

Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to motions is noon on Thursday 14 July 2022. 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 15 July 2022. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

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  ...  view the full decision text for item 31

The Chair advised that four motions had been submitted. Amendments to two of the motions had been submitted. In line with the Constitution, no further amendments were now permitted.

Motion to declare a Food Poverty Emergency

It was proposed by Councillor Moon and seconded by Councillor Biegel 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."

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

Cost of Living Crisis

It was proposed by Councillor Hingley and seconded by Councillor Middleton that the following motion be adopted:

“There is a pressing need to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Inflation is squeezing already stretched household budgets – propelled largely by energy price increases. On 1 April 2022, Ofgem increased the household energy price cap by 54 per cent - this excludes homes using solid fuel oil or bottled gas. However, the cap does not protect businesses.  Energy cost rises affect all aspects of life: from logistics and food production to home heating and cooking. Many Cherwell families face the hard choice between heating and eating.  

This crisis demonstrates the need to change our energy supply, not only to prevent a climate catastrophe, but also to maintain a functioning economy for all. The UK Government has announced tax reliefs for companies investing in "UK extraction". This move is encouraging more investment in North Sea oil and gas extraction, whilst hampering energy decarbonisation plans.

This Council therefore declares a ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ and calls on the Leader to write to the Government to:

1.    Put in place schemes for subsidising bus and train travel, to ensure people can travel affordably and sustainably 

2.    Urgently review the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31