Agenda item

(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 Services to urgently review the new statutory guidance and ensure that the Council is compliant, particularly in making available the Kinship Local Offer on the Council’s website.

2.    Become a Kinship Friendly Employer as soon as is practicable, working towards achieving the Gold Standard

3.    Record its thanks to all those who provide Kinship Care and mainstream Foster Care in Oldham.