(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion1
Councillor Harkness to MOVE and Councillor Hamblett to SECOND:
Tax relief for Public Transport
This Council notes that:
· In his article for the Daily Telegraph ‘Tax Relief just the Ticket’ (6 October 2013), then journalist Boris Johnson called for employees to be ‘allowed to pay for their season tickets from their pre-tax income.’
· Mr Johnson advocated for the introduction of a new tax relief scheme, limited to the basic rate, whereby ‘the employer would buy the season ticket and deduct the cost from his or her (employee’s) pay packet – and only then would the employee be assessed for tax.’
· The impact of such a scheme would mean that employees would have less taxable income reducing their liability for income tax and national insurance and the employer would also save on national insurance contributions.
· The economy has been hit by the Coronavirus Pandemic. This would be an easing measure for people returning to public transport.
· An annual season ticket costs a Metrolink tram commuter from Shaw to Manchester £1,154, a Train commuter from Greenfield to Manchester is £1,208, and a Bus commuter with First Manchester is £670.
· Such a tax-relief scheme would represent a significant financial saving for Oldham Borough’s commuters and be a real kickstart to the local economy.
· Council further notes that now Mr Johnson is Prime Minister he has it within his power to put his aspirations for tax relief on seasonal travel tickets into practice.
Council resolves to:
· Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of The Exchequer to request that this Government introduce such a tax-relief scheme.
· This would be on seasonal travel tickets (following the principles outlined in Mr Johnson’s Telegraph article in 2013) making this effective as soon as possible.
· Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester saying that we all should support such a scheme.
Motion 2
Councillor Williamson to MOVE and Councillor H Gloster to SECOND:
Accessible Shopping Districts
Council notes that:
Council resolves to:
Motion 3
Councillor D Murphy to MOVE and Councillor C Gloster to SECOND:
Chatty Checkouts and Cafés
Social isolation impacts on personal mental health and physical health. This also has a negative impact on the community. Councillors should be committed to looking at innovative ways of addressing this issue. This commitment must form part of Oldham Borough aspiring to be an Age-Friendly local authority.
Council notes that:
· In the UK the Chatty Café Scheme (https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk/) has been established with 900 participating outlets so far offering opportunities for customers to converse at Chatter and Natter Tables. Costa Coffee has become the scheme’s first national partner.
· The Pub in the Hub scheme is offering support to public houses joining the scheme.
· In the Netherlands Chatter Checkouts have been introduced in supermarkets, dedicated lanes where interaction between the customer and staff member is purposefully expected to take longer as conversation forms part of the transaction.
· Local authority run premises, such as libraries, leisure centres, and the local markets; health centres and hospitals run by the NHS; and pubs, cafes, shopping centres and retail parks run by business partners have potential to host such schemes.
· Operators of supermarkets and other retailers in the Borough may wish to establish Chatter Checkouts, maybe at quieter times of the trading week.
· There will be many people suffering from mental ill-health from the isolation of lockdown measures following the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Council resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chatty Café Scheme offering this Council’s support after Coronavirus lockdown measures have lifted.
· Ask the Overview and Scrutiny and Health Scrutiny Boards, in consultation with Age UK Oldham and District Teams, to 1. Examine the practicalities of introducing Chatter and Natter Tables in Council premises, 2. Identify where they could be established, 3. Identify how referrals to such provision might form part of social prescribing.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to Town Centre Partnership Board and major supermarket chains in the Borough for their views and suggestions for establishing Chatter and Natter Tables and Chatter Checkouts.
· Ensure that the Council’s website has a link to the Chatty Café Scheme.
· Engage with local market stall holders and vendors asking them to participate.
Minutes:
Motion 1 - Tax relief for Tram Travel
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Hamblett SECONDED the following motion:
This Council notes that:
· In his article for the Daily Telegraph ‘Tax Relief just the Ticket’ (6 October 2013), journalist Boris Johnson called for employees to be ‘allowed to pay for their season tickets from their pre-tax income.’
· Mr Johnson advocated for the introduction of a new tax relief scheme, limited to the basic rate, whereby ‘the employer would buy the season ticket and deduct the cost from his or her (employee’s) pay packet – and only then would the employee be assessed for tax.’
· The impact of such a scheme would mean that employees would have less taxable income reducing their liability for income tax and national insurance and the employer would also save on national insurance contributions.
· An annual season ticket costs a Metrolink tram commuter from Shaw to Manchester £1,154, a Train commuter from Greenfield to Manchester £1,208, and a Bus commuter with First Manchester £670.
· Such a tax-relief scheme would represent a significant financial saving for our Borough’s commuters.
· Council further notes that now Mr Johnson is Prime Minister he has it within his power to put his aspirations for tax relief on seasonal travel tickets into practice.
Council resolves to:
· Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of The Exchequer to request that this Government introduces a tax relief scheme.
· This would be on seasonal travel tickets (following the principles outlined in Mr Johnson’s Telegraph article in 2013) making this effective as soon as possible.
· Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester saying that we all should support such a scheme.”
Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Fielding SECONDED that under Council Procedure Rule 8.4d) the motion be referred to Overview and Scrutiny Board.
Councillor Harkness did not exercise his right of reply.
On being put to the VOTE, that the MOTION be REFERRED to Overview and Scrutiny Board was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED under Council Procedure Rule 8.4d), the motion be referred to Overview and Scrutiny.
Motion 2 – Accessible Shopping Districts
The Chief Executive had been notified that Councillor Williamson was unable to attend the meeting and was unable to Move the Motion and notice had been given that Councillor Murphy would Move the Motion in her absence which was AGREED.
Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor H. Gloster SECONDED the following MOTION:
“Council notes that:
· Regulations are in place so that future improvements are Disability Discrimination Act compliant.
· That there are low-cost improvements businesses can make.
· Charities and Oldham Council can support and provide better guidance as to what those improvements might be.
· There is proven success in directly investing in our town and district centres.
· That all members need to be aware of dementia awareness training available.
· Oldham Council know simple steps that can be taken to improve the use of the shops for people with dementia in our communities.
· The Coronavirus has pushed elderly people from our high streets. This motions aids those made vulnerable by Covid-19 to make an easier return to shopping.
· Improvements such as these would help and support the local economy.
Council resolves to:
· Set aside funding for adaptation to offer improved access for those with mobility issues. This could include, but not limited to: the provision of ramps, hand rails, additions to entrances, removal of steps. Any necessary alterations to make our district shopping centres become more accessible.
· Set up a district panel like that of the High Grants scheme. This is where local elected members have an input and approval of applications to ensure an accessible commercial centre with the Cabinet Member having the final say on applications.
· To ask Highways Engineers to carry out inspections for shopping area footways to ensure they meet current guidelines. It doesn’t matter if this is in a town centre or a row of shops on an estate, accessible shopping must take place right across our Borough.
· Ask that an assessment of shopping area and town centre signage is clear and that brail information points are installed across these zones.
· Ask that Oldham Council partner with Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB), Action on Hearing Loss and others to carry out assessment of buildings and shopping areas.
· Prepare a guidance campaign for businesses that could be used to raise accessibility awareness in commercial districts.
· Refer motion to Overview and Scrutiny and ask the mover and seconder to be part of any investigation.
· Read the report on Town Centres by Trailblazers, a group of disabled campaigners from across the UK titled ‘Short-changed’ to see if there is anything that we can learn from the report finding.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Ball SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
“Delete bullet point 1 and insert:
· The Equality Act requires that businesses make reasonable adjustments to ensure their premises and services are accessible to people with disabilities.
Delete bullet point 2.
New bullet point 3 – delete ‘better’ and ‘what those improvement might be’. Add at end ‘low-cost improvements businesses can make.’
New bullet point 4 – add at end ‘and Oldham Council has made bids for government funding e.g. the Future High Streets Fund as well as nominating Royton Town Centre for the GM Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge.
New bullet point 5 – delete existing and insert
· ‘The Work of the Oldham Dementia Partnership, Oldham Dementia Action Alliance and the Oldham Dementia Friends Champions network supports people with dementia and their families and makes businesses and services accessible to’
Delete original bullet point 6.
New bullet point 6: insert at beginning – ‘High Streets and district centres were already facing commercial challenge before the pandemic’. Insert ‘and vulnerable’ after elderly. Insert: ‘It is also likely to accelerate the transfer to on-line shopping and further reduce footfall overall’ after ‘our high streets’.
Insert new bullet point 7
· ‘£210,417 has been allocated to Oldham from the ‘Reopening High Streets Safely’ fund.
‘Council resolves to:
Bullet point 1 – delete ‘Set aside funding for adaptation to offer improved access for those with mobility issues.’ Insert ‘Ensure that any investment including from Creating a Better Place, in high streets, district centres and shopping areas take account of good practice in improving access for people with disabilities and dementia including improving signage, considering installing braille information points and assessing what can be learnt from the report ‘Short Changed’, a report on town centres by Trailblazers.’
Bullet point 2 – delete and insert ‘Encourage Members to consider access improvements to shops and shopping as part of bids made to the next round of the Local Improvement Fund. Members can work with partners including. Add Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Action on Hearing Loss and others to carry out assessment of buildings and shopping areas from original bullet point 5.
Delete all subsequent bullet point and insert new bullet point 3
· ‘Continue to promote and support the work of Oldham Dementia Partnership, Oldham Dementia Action Alliance and the Oldham Dementia Friends Champions network in supporting people with dementia and their families to be able to use public and commercial spaces safely.’
Amended Motion to read:
“Council notes that:
· The Equality Act requires that businesses make reasonable adjustments to ensure their premises and services are accessible to people with disabilities;
· Charities and Oldham Council can support and provide guidance as to low-cost improvements businesses can make.
· There is proven success in directly investing in our town and district centres and Oldham Council has made bids for government funding e.g. the Future High Streets Funds as well as nominating Royton Town Centre for the GM Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge.
· The work of the Oldham Dementia Partnership, Oldham Dementia Action Alliance and the Oldham Dementia Friends Champions network supports people with dementia and their families and makes businesses and services accessible to
· High streets and district centres were already facing commercial challenges before the pandemic. The Coronavirus has pushed elderly and vulnerable people from our high streets. It is also likely to accelerate the transfer to on-line shopping and further reduce footfall overall. This motion aids those made vulnerable by Covid-19 to make an easier return to shopping.
· £210,417 has been allocated to Oldham from the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund.
Council resolves to:
· Ensure that any investment, including from Creating a Better Place, in high streets, district centres and shopping areas takes account of good practice in improving access for people with disabilities and dementia including improving signage, considering installing braille information points and assessing what can be learnt from the report ‘Short changed’, a report on town centres by Trailblazers. This could include, but not limited to: the provision of ramps, hand rails, additions to entrances, removal of steps. Any necessary alterations needed to make our district shopping centres become more accessible.
· Encourage Members to consider access improvements to shops and shopping as part of bids to the next round of the Local Improvement Fund. Members can work with local partners including Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Action on Hearing Loss, and other to carry out assessment of buildings and shopping areas.
· Continue to promote and support the work of Oldham Dementia Partnership, Oldham Dementia Action Alliance and the Oldham Dementia Friends Champions Network in supporting people with dementia and their families to be able to use public and commercial spaces safely.”
Councillor Murphy exercised his right of reply.
Councillor Roberts exercised her right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the vote, 42 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT and 9 votes were cast AGAINST with 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore CARRIED.
Councillor Murphy exercised his right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. Any investment, including from Creating A Better Place, in high streets, district centres and shopping areas be ensured to take account of good practice in improving access for people with disabilities and dementia including improving signage, considering installing braille information points and assessing what can be learnt from the report ‘Short changed’, a report on town centres by Trailblazers. This could include, but not limited to: the provision of ramps, hand rails, additions to entrances, removal of steps. Any necessary alterations needed to make our district shopping centres become more accessible.
2. Members be encouraged to consider access improvements to shops and shopping as part of bids made to the next round of the Local Improvement Fund. Members can work with local partners including Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Action on Hearing Loss and others to carry out assessment of buildings and shopping areas.
3. The work of the Oldham Dementia Partnership, Oldham Dementia Action Alliance and the Oldham Dementia Friends continued to be promoted and supported in supporting people with dementia and their families to be able to use public and commercial spaces safely.
Motion 3- Chatty Checkouts and Cafes
Council notes that:
· In the UK the Chatty Café Scheme (https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk) has been established with 900 participating outlets so far offering opportunities for customers to converse at Chatter and Natter Tables. Costa Coffee has become the scheme’s first national partner.
· The Pub in the Hub scheme is offering support to public houses joining the scheme.
· In the Netherlands Chatter Checkouts have been introduced in supermarkets, dedicated lanes where interaction between the customer and staff member is purposefully expected to take longer as conversation performs part of the transaction.
· Local authority run premises, such as libraries, leisure centres, and the local markets; health centres and hospitals run by the NHS; and pubs, cafes, shopping centres and retail parks run by business partners have potential to host such schemes.
· Operators of supermarkets and other retailers in the borough may wish to establish Chatter Checkouts, maybe at quieter times of the trading week.
· There will be many people suffering from mental ill-health from the isolation of lockdown measures following the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Council resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chatty Café Scheme offering this Council’s support after Coronavirus measures have been lifted.
· Ask the Overview and Scrutiny and Health Scrutiny Boards, in consultation with Age UK Oldham and District Teams, to:
1. Examine the practicalities of introducing Chatter and Natter Tables in Council premises,
2. Identify where they could be established;
3. Identify how referrals to such provision might form part of social prescribing.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to Town Centre Partnership Board and major supermarket chains in the Borough for their views and suggestions for establishing Chatter and Natter Tables and Chatter Checkouts.
· Ensure the Council’s website has a link to the Chatty Café Scheme.
· Engage with local market stall holders and vendors asking them to participate.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Akhtar MOVED and Councillor Ibrahim SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
“Amend second bullet point in Council resolves to remove ‘Overview and Scrutiny and the’ and changes ‘Boards’ to ‘Board’.
Amended motion to read:
Council notes that:
· In the UK the Chatty Café Scheme (https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk) has been established with 900 participating outlets so far offering opportunities for customers to converse at Chatter and Natter Tables. Costa Coffee has become the scheme’s first national partner.
· The Pub in the Hub scheme is offering support to public houses joining the scheme.
· In the Netherlands Chatter Checkouts have been introduced in supermarkets, dedicated lanes where interaction between the customer and staff member is purposefully expected to take longer as conversation performs part of the transaction.
· Local authority run premises, such as libraries, leisure centres, and the local markets; health centres and hospitals run by the NHS; and pubs, cafes, shopping centres and retail parks run by business partners have potential to host such schemes.
· Operators of supermarkets and other retailers in the borough may wish to establish Chatter Checkouts, maybe at quieter times of the trading week.
· There will be many people suffering from mental ill-health from the isolation of lockdown measures following the Coronavirus Pandemic.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chatty Café Scheme offering this Council’s support after Coronavirus measures have been lifted.
· Ask the Health Scrutiny Board, in consultation with Age UK Oldham and District Teams, to:
1. Examine the practicalities of introducing Chatter and Natter Tables in Council premises,
2. Identify where they could be established;
3. Identify how referrals to such provision might form part of social prescribing.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to Town Centre Partnership Board and major supermarket chains in the Borough for their views and suggestions for establishing Chatter and Natter Tables and Chatter Checkouts.
· Ensure the Council’s website has a link to the Chatty Café Scheme.
· Engage with local market stall holders and vendors asking them to participate.”
Councillor Murphy ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the vote, the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Chatty Café Scheme offering this Council’s support after Coronavirus lockdown measures have lifted.
2. The Health and Scrutiny Board be asked, in consultation with Age UK Oldham and District Teams, to:
i) Examine the practicalities of introducing Chatter and Natter Tables in Council premises.
ii) Identify where they could be established.
iii) Identify how referrals to such provision might form part of social prescribing.
3. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Town Centre Partnership Board and major supermarket chains in the Borough for their views and suggestions for establishing Chatter and Natter Tables and Chatter Checkouts.
4. A link to the Chatty Café Scheme be ensured on the Council’s website.
5. The local market stall holders and vendors be engaged to ask them to participate.