Agenda

(time limit 20 minutes)

There are no petitions for this meeting of the Council to consider.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There is no Youth Council business for this Council meeting to consider.

(time limit 15 Minutes)

(Time limit 90 minutes)

Leader and Cabinet Members to present their reports.

Non-executive members may ask questions.

a.    Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Building a Better Oldham – including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 19^th August 2024 and 16^th September 2024, the meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 12^th July 2024 and 27^th September 2024 and the meeting of the AGMA Executive Board held 27^th September 2024

b.    Deputy Leader and Decent Home Portfolio Holder

c.    Deputy Leader and Value for Money and Sustainability Portfolio Holder

d.    Children and Young People’s Portfolio Holder

e.    Education and Skills Portfolio Holder

f.     Enterprise Portfolio Holder

g.    Adults, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

h.    Don’t Trash Oldham Portfolio Holder

i.      Thriving Communities and Culture Portfolio Holder

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Increasing Pension Credit Takeup
To be moved by Councillor Jabbar
Seconded by Councillor Dean

This council recognises the importance of financial security for our pensioners, particularly those with low incomes. Pension Credit is a vital benefit that can significantly enhance the quality of life for eligible individuals and open the door to a range of other benefits and services, yet many are unaware of its availability or how to apply.

It’s estimated there are 3,288 pensioners in the Borough currently missing out on pension credit, this amounts to £7.9m going unclaimed.

This Council resolves to:

1.            Launch an Awareness Campaign – to develop a targeted campaign to educate residents about Pension Credit, including its eligibility criteria, application process, and potential benefits.

2.            Collaborate with Local Organisations  to partner with community groups and local charities to disseminate information and assist residents with applications.

3.            Increase capacity to support residents – to identify and temporarily re-prioritise staffing capacity to support residents with applications where they may struggle to apply themselves and do not have anyone who can help them.

4.            Monitor and Report – to establish a system to monitor the impact of the awareness campaign and report back to the council within six months, providing data on the increase in Pension Credit applications and any feedback from residents.

Motion 2: Supporting Kinship Carers
To be moved by Councillor Shah
Seconded by Councillor Mushtaq

Council believes that children and young people who are unable to live with their parents should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare, whether or not they are looked after by the state.

This Council notes:

1.    that here are 141,000 children in Kinship Care in England and Wales – carers who are friends or family who step up to care for a child where their parents can’t. Many children and young people in the care of Oldham Council are looked after by Kinship Carers and the numbers are increasing.

2.    that in October 2024 the Government has published ‘Kinship Care: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities’ which pulls together the responsibilities of Councils in supporting all forms of kinship care (informal arrangements, private fostering, Kinship Foster Care, Child Arrangement Orders, Special Guardianship Orders and adoption).

3.    Research by the charity Kinship has highlighted the need for practical support for Kinship Carers - one third said their income had dropped by 50% after taking on caring responsibilities and one in five often or always feel lonely.

4.    There are Council employees who have taken on the responsibility of providing kinship care or who are approved Foster Carers

Council recognises the increasing demands being made of the Fostering Service and the valuable work done by Kinship and Mainstream Foster Carers in caring for children looked after by the Council and the investment made into the service to support carers and those taking Special Guardianship Orders.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Instruct the Director of Children’s  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Stop the Winter Fuel Payment Cuts

To be moved by Councillor Bishop

Seconded by Councillor Marland

This Council notes that:

The recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal Winter Fuel Payments has restricted eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credit, excluding too many vulnerable pensioners.

Many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will no longer receive the payments. Across England and Wales, the number of people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million). According to data obtained by the Liberal Democrats from the Department of Work and Pensions, 85% of pensioners in Oldham Borough will lose out. There are an estimated 7,800 pensioners in Oldham over the age of 80 set to lose their winter fuel payment who do not receive pension credit.

This Council believes that:

The criteria for Winter Fuel Payments that the Labour Government is using will exclude too many pensioners who need help. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for Pension Credit.

This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.

Take up of Pension Credit has been worryingly low, more than one in three eligible pensioners are not signed up. We have a role to play to increase awareness of welfare support such as Pension Credit to ensure people get the help that they need.

This Council further notes that:

The Energy Price Cap has risen by 10% in October, which combined with the

removal of Winter Fuel Payments will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Instruct the Council’s Communications Team to urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credit. This should include a dedicated advice line, promotion in the local press as well as targeted letters to those who may be eligible.

2.    Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately paused and introduce a new threshold to determine eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments. Council further requests the Leader of the Council write to Oldham’s three MPs asking them to give their formal support to halting these changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.

Motion 2: The Budget Challenge

To be moved by Councillor Lancaster

Seconded by Councillor Woodvine

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has delivered a budget which will impact the people who live in the Oldham Metropolitan Borough.

This Council resolves to:

1. To write to Oldham’s three MP’s, the relevant government departments and agencies to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments for all pensioners, without any means testing. All pensioners, regardless of income or other financial factors, should receive this payment automatically in recognition of their lifelong contributions to society through taxes.
2. That the Council will do all it can to help alleviate those struggling paying for winter  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Council is asked to consider a report of the Deputy Chief Execuitve (Place) in response to the Motion that Council approved on 10^th July 2024, regarding the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan.

Council is asked to consider the Corporate Plan 2024 – 2027: Ready for the Future

A report of the Director of Finance detailing a Council Tax reduction scheme for 2025/26.

A report covering the activities of the Council’s four Scrutiny Boards in 2023/24.

To note actions taken arising from previous Council meetings

Council is asked to consider the Oldham Plan 2024 – 2030: Pride, Progress, Partnership.