Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

 

Motion 1

Councillor Woodvine to MOVE and Councillor Byrne to SECOND:

Supporting our Armed Forces community

The Royal British Legion (TRBL) have conducted a series of successful campaigns with the aim of improving the provision of public services for the Armed Forces community across the United Kingdom and promoting their entitlement and access to those services.

In November 2022, a new Armed Forces Covenant Duty came into force, as introduced by His Majesty’s Government. This means legal obligations have been placed on the Metropolitan Borough Council of Oldham to show due regard to the principles of the Covenant, particularly in the policy areas of healthcare, housing, and education.

Regarding TRBL’s ‘Making the Benefits System Fit for Service’ campaign this Council are already meeting most of the asks, which is positive, but there is more to do for the 5,941 veterans currently living in the Borough of Oldham.

This Council does disregard as income all payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (2005), the War Pension Scheme, and Service Attributable Pensions in assessments for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support / Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants.

This Council also disregards as income all payments of Service Invaliding Pensions (SIPs) in Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants, however, it does regard SIPs as occupational pensions and does not disregard them in assessments for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support / Reduction.

TRBL believes that Local Authorities should ensure that veterans are not forced to give up their military compensation to pay for the same support to which their civilian counterparts are entitled. Military compensation is awarded to veterans, and sometimes their families, in recognition of the pain and loss of amenity brought about by injury and illness that was caused in Service. Military compensation is not income, and therefore should not be treated as such.

According to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), there are only four practices who possess the ‘veterans friendly’ accreditation in the Borough of Oldham – those being Hill Top Surgery, Medlock Medical Practice, Royton Medical Centre and Saddleworth Medical Practice.

A University of Chester evaluation found that 84% of accredited practices said that they feel they have a better understanding of veterans’ needs after becoming accredited.

With respect to education, all state schools, academies, and free schools in England, which have children of service families in school years Reception to Year 11, can receive Service Pupil Premium (SPP) funding. SPP recognises the specific challenges children from Service families face, and the funding can be used to offer pastoral support and help mitigate the negative impact on Service children of family mobility and parental deployment.

This Council resolves to act upon the two primary recommendations contained within TRBL’s ‘Unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community’ report, released in September 2021, by:

• Writing to all statutory bodies and those delivering statutory services in the Borough to ensure they routinely ask and record whether their patients and clients are a member of the Armed Forces community and if they have caring responsibilities.
• Urgently acting upon NHS England’s recommendation to consider how carers from the Armed Forces can be supported in local carers’ strategies, including how they can be encouraged to access support and take up a carer’s assessment.

In addition, this Council resolves that:

• The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive Officer shall immediately suspend the Council policy which considers SIPs as a source of income in assessments for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support / Reductions.
• The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care shall write to all GP service providers in the Borough, that are not currently accredited, and encourage them to seek the ‘veterans friendly’ accreditation. And, add to Oldham’s carers’ strategy ways in which to better serve and support our Armed Forces community – something it currently does not do.
• The Cabinet Member for Education & Skills shall write to education providers in the Borough to strongly encourage parents, who are Service Personnel, to notify the schools, colleges, et cetera of their unique status in order that they qualify for SPP.
• The Leader of the Council shall present the contents of this proposal to representatives on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and promote the positive impact the resolutions will have if acted upon by their respective Councils for the 68,037 veterans living across the GMCA area.

In relation to housing, this Council supports TRBL’s responses to Local Government consultations concerning this policy area, and resolves to meet their requests for this Council to:

• Ensure that all residents approaching housing services are asked a question that will identify their membership of the Armed Forces community.
• Regularly review staff training processes to ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the housing policies specific to the Armed Forces community.
• Use discretion in waiving the five-year limit and allow veterans to access housing support with an exemption from the local connection requirement regardless of the time elapsed since they left Service.
• Apply the local connection exemption to divorced or separated spouses or partners of Service Personnel who are separating or have done so, in the five years preceding their application.

 

Motion 2

Free school meals and winter care packages

Councillor H Gloster to MOVE and Councillor Williamson to SECOND:
Council notes that:
Britain is currently experiencing a severe squeeze on living standards, with unprecedented pressures on household income coupled with rising prices of goods and fuel – all of which are causing hardship across every income bracket in every community. 
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine; Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have all put pressures on trade, leading to empty shelves in our shops and increased fuel prices. 

Decisions made by the Conservative government have resulted in panic in the stock-markets, causing the pound to plumet to its lowest ever value against the US dollar since the dollar was introduced in 1792.

We face national and international problems that require national and international solutions. 
Nevertheless, this Council believes that:

• Local government can drive ambitious and impactful changes that makes a real difference in people’s everyday lives. 
• This coming winter will be extremely difficult for many of our residents.  There is a need for Oldham Council to do more, by offering practical support for those who need it.
• The administration’s £3m cost-of-living response package is welcome, however, with only £1.2m committed to be spent this calendar year it represents a missed opportunity to offer more real and meaningful support this winter.

This Council notes:
Free school meal provision helps improve the mental and physical health of children, whilst tackling childhood obesity, malnourishment, and driving up educational achievement.  A healthy meal at lunchtime allows children to concentrate in the afternoon, promotes the benefits of healthier eating; and makes a huge impact in tackling health inequalities.

Winter care packages - delivered to the vulnerable - would make a real difference to many who need support from this Council the most.  The Council should explore opportunities for funding and submit robust bids where there is funding available.  Every effort should be made to fund a winter care pack scheme for residents this winter, stocked with warm clothing, household essentials and information about key support services offered by the Council and other organisations.  

This council resolves to:
Explore opportunities to support Oldham’s primary schools with free school meal budget pressures as part of this Council’s cost-of-living support package and emerging priorities fund.  Especially seeking to ensure that the positive impact of free school meal provision is not offset by the Conservative government’s real terms cuts to school budgets in our Borough. 

Develop a winter care package scheme for vulnerable households this winter – offering warm clothing, household essentials, useful information about council services and support offered by other organisations; and a friendly knock on the door to our most vulnerable residents.

Explore opportunities to tackle digital isolation and loneliness in Oldham Borough – ensuring that staff/volunteers at libraries, community spaces and warm hubs are resourced to assist people who may not have access to the internet, need help to access the internet, and need help to access Council and other agencies services. 

Motion 1 – Supporting our Armed Forces Community

Councillor Woodvine MOVED and Councillor Byrne SECONDED the following Motion:

 

The Royal British Legion (TRBL) have conducted a series of successful campaigns with the aim of improving the provision of public services for the Armed Forces community across the United Kingdom and promoting their entitlement and access to those services.

In November 2022, a new Armed Forces Covenant Duty came into force, as introduced by His Majesty’s Government. This means legal obligations have been placed on the Metropolitan Borough Council of Oldham to show due regard to the principles of the Covenant, particularly in the policy areas of healthcare, housing, and education.

Regarding TRBL’s ‘Making the Benefits System Fit for Service’ campaign this Council are already meeting most of the asks, which is positive, but there is more to do for the 5,941 veterans currently living in the Borough of Oldham.

This Council does disregard as income all payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (2005), the War Pension Scheme, and Service Attributable Pensions in assessments for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support / Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants.

This Council also disregards as income all payments of Service Invaliding Pensions (SIPs) in Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants, however, it does regard SIPs as occupational pensions and does not disregard them in assessments for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support / Reduction.

TRBL believes that Local Authorities should ensure that veterans are not forced to give up their military compensation to pay for the same support to which their civilian counterparts are entitled. Military compensation is awarded to veterans, and sometimes their families, in recognition of the pain and loss of amenity brought about by injury and illness that was caused in Service. Military compensation is not income, and therefore should not be treated as such.

According to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), there are only four practices who possess the ‘veterans friendly’ accreditation in the Borough of Oldham – those being Hill Top Surgery, Medlock Medical Practice, Royton Medical Centre and Saddleworth Medical Practice.

A University of Chester evaluation found that 84% of accredited practices said that they feel they have a better understanding of veterans’ needs after becoming accredited.

With respect to education, all state schools, academies, and free schools in England, which have children of service families in school years Reception to Year 11, can receive Service Pupil Premium (SPP) funding. SPP recognises the specific challenges children from Service families face, and the funding can be used to offer pastoral support and help mitigate the negative impact on Service children of family mobility and parental deployment.

This Council resolves to act upon the two primary recommendations contained within TRBL’s ‘Unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community’ report, released in September 2021, by:

•           Writing to all statutory bodies and those delivering statutory services in the Borough to ensure they routinely ask and record whether their patients and clients are a member of the Armed Forces community and if they have caring responsibilities.

•           Urgently acting upon NHS England’s recommendation to consider how carers from the Armed Forces can be supported in local carers’ strategies, including how they can be encouraged to access support and take up a carer’s assessment.

In addition, this Council resolves that:

•           The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive Officer shall immediately suspend the Council policy which considers SIPs as a source of income in assessments for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support / Reductions.

•           The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care shall write to all GP service providers in the Borough, that are not currently accredited, and encourage them to seek the ‘veterans friendly’ accreditation. And, add to Oldham’s carers’ strategy ways in which to better serve and support our Armed Forces community – something it currently does not do.

•           The Cabinet Member for Education & Skills shall write to education providers in the Borough to strongly encourage parents, who are Service Personnel, to notify the schools, colleges, et cetera of their unique status in order that they qualify for SPP.

•           The Leader of the Council shall present the contents of this proposal to representatives on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and promote the positive impact the resolutions will have if acted upon by their respective Councils for the 68,037 veterans living across the GMCA area.

In relation to housing, this Council supports TRBL’s responses to Local Government consultations concerning this policy area, and resolves to meet their requests for this Council to:

•           Ensure that all residents approaching housing services are asked a question that will identify their membership of the Armed Forces community.

•           Regularly review staff training processes to ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the housing policies specific to the Armed Forces community.

•           Use discretion in waiving the five-year limit and allow veterans to access housing support with an exemption from the local connection requirement regardless of the time elapsed since they left Service.

•           Apply the local connection exemption to divorced or separated spouses or partners of Service Personnel who are separating or have done so, in the five years preceding their application.

 

Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Chadderton SECONDED the following PROCEDURAL MOTION

 

That consideration of this Motion be referred to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, on the basis that the recommended actions, detailed above, are already being carried out by the Council. That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny be requested to investigate this matter and to submit a report thereon to Council in due course.

 

On being put to the vote the PROCEDURAL MOTION was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

That consideration of this Motion be referred to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, for examination and that Committee be requested to submit a report thereon to Council in due course.

 

Motion 2 – Free School Meals and Winter Care Packages

Councillor H. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Williamson SECONDED the following Motion:

 

Britain is currently experiencing a severe squeeze on living standards, with unprecedented pressures on household income coupled with rising prices of goods and fuel – all of which are causing hardship across every income bracket in every community. 

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine; Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have all put pressures on trade, leading to empty shelves in our shops and increased fuel prices. 

Decisions made by the Conservative government have resulted in panic in the stock-markets, causing the pound to plumet to its lowest ever value against the US dollar since the dollar was introduced in 1792.

We face national and international problems that require national and international solutions. 

Nevertheless, this Council believes that:

•           Local government can drive ambitious and impactful changes that makes a real difference in people’s everyday lives. 

•           This coming winter will be extremely difficult for many of our residents.  There is a need for Oldham Council to do more, by offering practical support for those who need it.

•           The administration’s £3m cost-of-living response package is welcome, however, with only £1.2m committed to be spent this calendar year it represents a missed opportunity to offer more real and meaningful support this winter.

This Council notes:

Free school meal provision helps improve the mental and physical health of children, whilst tackling childhood obesity, malnourishment, and driving up educational achievement.  A healthy meal at lunchtime allows children to concentrate in the afternoon, promotes the benefits of healthier eating; and makes a huge impact in tackling health inequalities.

Winter care packages - delivered to the vulnerable - would make a real difference to many who need support from this Council the most.  The Council should explore opportunities for funding and submit robust bids where there is funding available.  Every effort should be made to fund a winter care pack scheme for residents this winter, stocked with warm clothing, household essentials and information about key support services offered by the Council and other organisations.  

This council resolves to:

Explore opportunities to support Oldham’s primary schools with free school meal budget pressures as part of this Council’s cost-of-living support package and emerging priorities fund.  Especially seeking to ensure that the positive impact of free school meal provision is not offset by the Conservative government’s real terms cuts to school budgets in our Borough. 

Develop a winter care package scheme for vulnerable households this winter – offering warm clothing, household essentials, useful information about council services and support offered by other organisations; and a friendly knock on the door to our most vulnerable residents.

Explore opportunities to tackle digital isolation and loneliness in Oldham Borough – ensuring that staff/volunteers at libraries, community spaces and warm hubs are resourced to assist people who may not have access to the internet, need help to access the internet, and need help to access Council and other agencies services. 

 

AMENDMENT

 

Councillor Munroe MOVED and Councillor Ali SECONDED the following AMENDMENT

 

Council notes that Britain is currently experiencing a severe squeeze on living standards, with unprecedented pressures on household income coupled with rising prices of goods and fuel – all of which are causing hardship across every income bracket in every community. 

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine; Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have all put pressures on trade, leading to empty shelves in our shops and increased fuel prices. 

Decisions made by the Conservative government have resulted in panic in the stock-markets, causing the pound to plumet to its lowest ever value against the US dollar since the dollar was introduced in 1792.

We face national and international problems that require national and international solutions. 

Nevertheless, this Council believes that:

•           Local government can drive ambitious and impactful changes that makes a real difference in people’s everyday lives. 

•           This coming winter will be extremely difficult for many of our residents.  There is a need for Oldham Council to do more, by offering practical support for those who need it.

•           Oldham Council has been a pioneering council in Greater Manchester, investing £3m over the next 2 years to offer practical and tangible support to those who need it across the borough”

•           The administration’s £3m cost-of-living response package is welcome and offers real and meaningful support this winter including providing vulnerable Oldhamers with Winter Warm Packs, with 436 requests for these within the first week of applications going live.

This Council notes:

Free school meal provision helps improve the mental and physical health of children, whilst tackling childhood obesity, malnourishment, and driving up educational achievement.  A healthy meal at lunchtime allows children to concentrate in the afternoon, promotes the benefits of healthier eating; and makes a huge impact in tackling health inequalities.

The Labour Party’s plan to introduce free breakfast clubs for every primary school as a first step towards a new modern childcare system is a welcome one and will help relieve pressures on families.

Providing necessary and essential items through the We Can Help package will make a real difference to many who need support from this Council the most. The Council should continue to explore opportunities for funding and continue to submit robust bids where funding is available. The Council will continue to work with partners to ensure that residents are able to access resources they need including warm clothing, food and household essentials, and are signposted to any and all support services offered by the council, government and other organisations

This council resolves to:

Explore opportunities to support Oldham’s primary schools with free school meal budget pressures as part of this Council’s cost-of-living support package and emerging priorities fund.  Especially seeking to ensure that the positive impact of free school meal provision is not offset by the Conservative government’s real terms cuts to school budgets in our Borough. 

And to continue the work of the administration in supporting all children eligible for Free School Meals, including ensuring that all eligible are claiming Free School Meals and that families claiming free school meals are signposted to other support packages as part of the administration’s “We Can Help” campaign.

Children and families who are struggling should not be forced to struggle more due to the Conservative Government’s economic mismanagement, and it is the administration’s priority to support residents through this crisis.

Continue to work with partners to ensure that vulnerable households are prioritised this winter – offering warm clothing, household essentials, useful information about council services and support offered by other organisations; and a friendly knock on the door to our most vulnerable residents.

Explore opportunities to tackle digital isolation and loneliness in Oldham Borough – ensuring that staff/volunteers at libraries, community spaces and warm hubs are resourced to assist people who may not have access to the internet, need help to access the internet, and need help to access Council and other agencies services.

 

On being put to the Vote the AMENDMENT was CARRIED.

 

On being put to the Vote the MOTION as AMENDED was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

That this Council will:

1.    Explore opportunities to support Oldham’s primary schools with free school meal budget pressures as part of this Council’s cost-of-living support package and emerging priorities fund.  Especially seeking to ensure that the positive impact of free school meal provision is not offset by the Conservative government’s real terms cuts to school budgets in our Borough.

2.    To continue the work of the administration in supporting all children eligible for Free School Meals, including ensuring that all eligible are claiming Free School Meals and that families claiming free school meals are signposted to other support packages as part of the administration’s “We Can Help” campaign. Children and families who are struggling should not be forced to struggle more due to the Conservative Government’s economic mismanagement, and it is the administration’s priority to support residents through this crisis.

3.    Continue to work with partners to ensure that vulnerable households are prioritised this winter – offering warm clothing, household essentials, useful information about council services and support offered by other organisations; and a friendly knock on the door to our most vulnerable residents.

4.    Explore opportunities to tackle digital isolation and loneliness in Oldham Borough – ensuring that staff/volunteers at libraries, community spaces and warm hubs are resourced to assist people who may not have access to the internet, need help to access the internet, and need help to access Council and other agencies services.