Council had before it 19 Motions on Notice and reached decisions as follows:

 

(1)       Loan Sharks – (Proposer Councillor Mike Rowley)
 
1.         This Council expresses its deep concern about the activities of             "pay day loan" companies which target people suffering from      significant day-to-day financial pressures.
 
2.         This Council notes that "Wonga", the most prominent of these   companies, recorded a 225% rise in profits last year while             charging interest rates of up to 4,000%.
 
3.         This Council believes that the activities of these companies can           trap some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our communities in a descending spiral of toxic debt.  We    strongly             condemn "pay day loan companies" and believe the       advertising produced by "Wonga" targeting pensioners and        students to be particularly irresponsible.
 
4.         This Council resolves:

(a)       to support the campaign for caps on the costs of credit   and a real time register to give consumers the protection        they so desperately need;

                        (b)       to request the Leader and the Chief Executive to write                            accordingly to the Secretary of State for Business,                                         Innovation and Skills; and

                        (c)        to request the City Executive Board to ensure that sound                                    advice on loans is incorporated into any    money advice                                    Council officers provide in the transition to Universal                                               Credit.

 

Councillor Dick Wolff moved an amendment as follows and with the agreement of Council then withdrew the proposed amendment.

 

To add to section 4 a subparagraph (d) as follows:

 

“(d)      to increase its advocacy of and practical support for local Credit                     Unions, including the Oxford and Blackbird Leys Credit Unions.”

 

Councillor Mike Rowley seconded by Councillor Dick Wolff moved an amendment as follows:

 

To add a new point 4 as follows:

 

(4)       This Council commends the work of Credit Unions and especially Oxford Credit Union and Blackbird Leys Credit Union, which fill an invaluable role in helping people in our City avoid falling into the clutches of loan sharks.

 

To add a point (d) to the original point (4) which now becomes point (5) as follows:

 

(d)       To continue to work closely with local Credit Union and regularly review whether there are any further ways in which the Council can support their current work and/or plans for expansion.

 

To amend point (5)(c) to read as follows:

 

(c)        To request the City executive Board to ensure that sound advice on loans is incorporated into any money advice Council officers provide in the transition to Universal Credit, and into any money advice provide by independent bodies in receipt of funding from the Council.

 

The mover of the substantive Motion, Councillor Mike Rowley accepted the amendment and following a debate Council voted and the amended Motion was adopted as follows:

 

1.         This Council expresses its deep concern about the activities     of         "pay day loan" companies which target people suffering from      significant day-to-day financial pressures.
 
2.         This Council notes that "Wonga", the most prominent of these   companies, recorded a 225% rise in profits last year while             charging interest rates of up to 4,000%.
 
3.         This Council believes that the activities of these companies can           trap some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our communities in a descending spiral of toxic debt.  We    strongly             condemn "pay day loan companies" and believe the       advertising produced by "Wonga" targeting pensioners and        students to be particularly irresponsible.

4.         This Council commends the work of Credit Unions and especially Oxford Credit Union and Blackbird Leys Credit Union, which fill an invaluable role in helping people in our City avoid falling into the clutches of loan sharks.

 

5.         This Council resolves:

(a)       to support the campaign for caps on the costs of credit   and a real time register to give consumers the protection        they so desperately need;

                        (b)       to request the Leader and the Chief Executive to write                            accordingly to the Secretary of State for Business,                                         Innovation and Skills; and

                        (c)        to request the City Executive Board to ensure that sound                                    advice on loans is incorporated into any    money advice                                    Council officers provide in the transition to Universal                                               Credit, and into any money advice provided by                                                    independent bodies in receipt of funding from the Council;

 

                        (d)       to continue to work closely with local Credit Unions and                          regularly review whether there are any further ways in                                  which the Council can support their current work and/or                                     plans for expansion.

 

(2)       Universal Credit – (Proposer Councillor Van Coulter, seconder Councillor Antonia Bance)

 

This Council calls upon the Government to act with caution and that it must postpone the introduction of its Universal Credit.

 

The risks are great, yet the Government refuses to publish the risk register for the programme.

 

The project has already been delayed owing to problems with information technology - and the IT industry declares that the timescales involved are unrealistic.

 

Should the Government persist with its current aim of introducing the Universal Credit in October 2013, it will be a disaster.

 

Whilst the trial to “prove” the fitness of Universal Credit is to run from April 2013, it is to be carried out in Tameside, Oldham, Wigan and Warrington – metropolitan areas with modest housing and living costs.

 

If pressed ahead, Universal Credit will be a disaster for people reliant on welfare. It will be a disaster for the district councils that the Government will expect to resolve the problems that arise, and it will be a disaster for the public as a whole, because they will have the burden of the cost for a failed programme of “reform”.

 

As it stands, Universal Credit has many predicted defects – as set out by more than seventy highly credible organisations.

 

There is reasonable certainty, that as it stands, Universal Credit will leave many single people and families worse off.

 

As it stands, people with disabilities and those who are currently unable to work because of illness face harsh fitness for work tests.

 

As it stands, the new benefit cap will badly hit larger families and people who live in places where the cost of housing is high.

As it stands, there are unrealistic expectations for lone parents with young children to go out to work.

 

As it stands, Universal credit will be paid in one monthly payment and normally to one person in each household.

 

As it stands, Universal Credit will disadvantage women – and by doing so, it will disadvantage children.

 

As it stands, the community action programme, or so called 'support for the very long-term unemployed', amounts to no more than an easy way for companies to get free labour and take advantage of people who have been unable to find work.

 

As it stands, people will be forced into low-paid jobs.

 

As it stands, poorer working people will be forced to leave their homes.

 

As it stands, the Universal Credit programme is, for all practices and purposes, unachievable.

 

This Council calls upon the Government to defer introduction of Universal Credit – less haste and give more thought for the consequences for this so called “reform”

 

Councillor Dick Wolff seconded by Councillor Elise Benjamin moved an amendment as follows:

 

To add an additional paragraph before the final paragraph as follows:

 

Further, it represents a missed opportunity to seriously explore a fairer, non-means-tested ‘Citizens’ Basic Income’ system.

 

Councillor Craig Simmons moved an amendment as follows and with the agreement of Council then withdrew the proposed amendment.

 

To add an additional paragraph at the end as follows:

 

In the light of the above concerns, Council asks the City executive Board to reconsider its decision to pilot Universal Credit in Oxford.

 

Councillor Mark Mills seconded by Councillor Jean Fooks moved an amendment as follows:

 

Delete all of the words in the 15^th paragraph after “As it stands, the Universal Credit Programme”

 

Insert the following new words – Notwithstanding these criticisms, Council commends the principle of consolidating working age benefits, and affirms the desirability of a social security system that recipients can readily understand and which eases the transition of out of work claimants into employment.  Furthermore, Council believed that such a system could be designed without the flaws discussed in this motion.  Council, therefore, calls on the Government to alter the Universal Credit Programme to address the weaknesses discussed above.

 

The mover of the substantive Motion, Councillor Van Coulter did not accept the amendments by from Councillors Dick Wolff and Councillor Mark Mills.  Following a debate, Council voted and the substantive Motion was adopted.

 

(3)       Day Centre Charges – (Proposer Councillor Gill Sanders, seconder Councillor Bob Price)

 

Councillor Rae Humberstone declared a pecuniary interest as he was an employee of the Oxfordshire County Council and left the room before the Motion on Notice was presented, debated and voted upon.

 

This Council notes with concern the County Council’s plan to pass on a massive increase in fees for attendance at day centres from £10 to £25 per session - an increase of 150%.  Many people attend day centres three times a week which would mean an increase from £30 to £75 and so they would not be able to attend the centres so frequently. 

 

One of the biggest problems of getting older is isolation and this will only serve to increase the isolation of older people.

 

We recognise the need to make increases in the existing charges, and most older people would accept this. However the proposed increase would mean that fewer people would be able to attend the day centres and the fall in numbers attending would probably result in some centres closing, resulting in even more isolation for many older people.

 

At the moment the County is consulting on these proposed increases and we urge them to take careful note of the comments received during the consultation process and to consider very carefully the consequences of such an increase in charges and ask them only to make increases that would not have such a devastating effect on the older, most vulnerable and isolated people in our communities.

 

Councillor Gill Sanders seconded by Councillor Price moved an amendment to her own Motion on Notice to delete the whole of the final paragraph.

 

Following a debated, Council voted and the amended Motion was adopted as follows:

 

This Council notes with concern the County Council’s plan to pass on a massive increase in fees for attendance at day centres from £10 to £25 per session - an increase of 150%.  Many people attend day centres three times a week which would mean an increase from £30 to £75 and so they would not be able to attend the centres so frequently. 

 

One of the biggest problems of getting older is isolation and this will only serve to increase the isolation of older people.

 

We recognise the need to make increases in the existing charges, and most older people would accept this. However the proposed increase would mean that fewer people would be able to attend the day centres and the fall in numbers attending would probably result in some centres closing, resulting in even more isolation for many older people.

 

(4)       Destabilisation of University finances – (Proposer Councillor Bob Price seconder Councillor Sajjad Malik)

 

This Council regrets the destabilising of University finances caused by the Coalition Government's trebling of fees, attacks on the recruitment of international students, and the arbitrary capping of student numbers at individual universities.

 

Councillor Jean Fooks seconded by Councillor Mark Mills moved an amendment as follows:

 

In the first sentence, delete the words ‘destabilisation of University Finances caused by’.

 

Insert ‘but welcomes the extra support now available to students from poorer backgrounds and the raising of the earnings threshold before any repayments have to be made to £21,000.’  

 

Then delete ‘attacks on’ and replace with ‘It regrets the Conservative-led attempt to limit’. Add ‘and welcomes the Minister Vince Cable’s work to treat students differently from other would-be immigrants to the UK.’

 

And replace ‘and‘ with ‘It further regrets the arbitrary capping of student numbers at individual universities.’

 

The Mover of the substantive Motion did not accept the amendment.  Following a debate, Council voted and the substantive Motion was adopted.

 

(5)       Relaxation of Planning Regulations – (Proposer Councillor Roy            Darke)

 

The Council condemns the recently announced relaxation of planning regulations.  The planning system has served Oxford and the country well over many decades by reducing sprawl and ad-hoc un-neighbourly development.  The coalition delusion that less planning control will unlock pent up demand "for more affordable housing" (Nick Clegg) is wholly unrealistic and unlikely.  Supply-side tinkering is not the answer.  The main problem for new and expanding households is failure of the banks to lend money during the deep world-wide recession.  Planning controls are not the principal blockage to home extension to family houses.

 

This is another example of the failure of the Coalition Government to understand that knee-jerk policies have unintended consequences when not properly thought through.  In Oxford, and elsewhere, the proposed measures will open up opportunities for landlords and developers with capital to acquire and extend family homes for multi-occupation leading to poorly designed and overbearing extensions with loss of garden space and amenity.

 

Councillor Dick Wolff moved an amendment as follows:

 

To delete the penultimate sentence from the first paragraph and replace with alternative wording, to read as follows:

 

The main problem for new and expanding households is

 

(a)       the legacy left by a lack of commitment to the building of social          housing by previous Labour and Conservative governments, coupled with

 

(b)       the gross inflation of house prices resulting from 30 years of   progressive   financial deregulation, most notably the Financial             Services Act 2001 which     removed limits on bank lending           unsupported by reserves, enabling           limitless cheap but   ultimately unsustainable credit.

 

Councillor Roy Darke’s Motion on Notice, nor was Councillor Dick Wolff’s amendment considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(6)       Expansion of powers of the Planning Inspectorate – (Proposer Councillor Ed Turner) 

 

Council opposes the proposal of September 2012 to remove from local authorities who fail to meet centrally set targets the ability to determine planning applications in their areas, and believes that such a move is an unwarranted assault on local democracy.

 

Councillor Ed Turner’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(7)       Educational Attainment – Key Stage 1 – (Proposer Councillor Jean Fooks, seconder Councillor Jim Campbell)

 

This Council

 

*           noting that the recent Ofsted Report singled out Oxfordshire's                Schools for their poor performance;

            *           regretting the fact that many Oxford City children have for far                  too long not been reaching their potential at Key Stages 1 and 2;

 

            *           endorsing the decision of the City Council to provide      intensive                     support to Primary Schools in disadvantaged areas;

 

            *           believing that any progress will be limited until and unless the                City and County Councils work together for the benefit of                            Oxford's children.

            Requests the Leader to ask the Chair of the County Council's   Children's Services Scrutiny Committee to consider nominating             members to join in the monitoring work being carried out by the             Educational Attainment Panel of  this Council's Community and            Partnerships Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Dick Wolff submitted an amendment as follows:

 

To insert the words “in State-funded schools” in the first bullet point.

 

Councillor Laurence Baxter seconded by Councillor Mark Lygo, submitted an amendment to add an additional paragraph as follows:

 

“Council further believes that teachers - in Oxford and beyond - often go the extra mile for their pupils, and believes that, especially when much is asked of teachers (as it will be in raising standards in Oxford's schools), it is essential to treat their profession with fairness and respect.  Council therefore regrets the threatening approach taken by the Secretary of State for Education towards teachers engaging in a legitimate "work to rule", and further attempts to erode teachers' job security at Academies.  Council also opposes a localised "free for all" on teachers' pay, which will see radically divergent amounts being paid for the same work in different schools, will lead to more friction between schoolteachers and managers, will promote "poaching" and other unhealthy industrial practices, and represents yet another attack on fairness in the labour market by the Tory / Lib Dem government”

 

Councillor Fooks Motion on Notice and Councillors Wollf’s and Baxter’s amendments were not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(8)       Break the Bag Habit Campaign – (Proposer Councillor Graham Jones)

 

This Council welcomes the increasing emphasis on reducing litter and protecting the environment.

 

However, it

 

*           notes with dismay that last year eight billion 'thin-gauge' plastic                         bags were issued in the UK, an increase of more than 5% over                    2010;

 

*           notes with interest that in Wales, where there is a 5p levy on bags, there has been a drop of up to 90%, similar to that achieved in the Republic of Ireland, that Northern Ireland is to follow suit, and that Scotland has put a similar policy out to public consultation;

 

*           and notes that the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Keep Britain Tidy, and the Marine Conservation Society have launched the Break the Bag Habit Campaign, calling on the Government to introduce a levy on single-use plastic in England.

 

Council would like to congratulate those retailers in Oxford who have switched to issuing paper or biodegradable plastic bags to reduce damage to the environment.

 

In keeping with Council policy, to reduce litter as well as to limit environmental damage, Council asks the Leader to write to the City's two MPs requesting them to support the Campaign.

 

Councillor Graham Jones Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice hap lapsed.

 

(9)       Road Deaths of Cyclists – (Proposer Councillor David Williams,             seconded by Councillor Craig Simmons)   

 

Although there has been a decline in the number of deaths of cyclists over the last ten years on UK roads by 49% the figures for Oxfordshire are not so encouraging with a corresponding figure of only 23%? (Office of National Statistics).  From the County Council’s own figures the majority of the decline in the County was in the first 5 years with the numbers of those killed or seriously injured remaining essentially static for the following five. 

 

There is no doubt a number of reasons as to why this figure is so out of line with the national average figure, especially 2011 when the annual figure increased dramatically, virtually doubling.

 

With this in view the City Council will work with the County Council with three clear objectives in the short, medium and long term and take into consideration the Western European models of urban traffic management that generally see half the number of fatal injuries to cyclists .

 

            The Council cycle plan will include:

   

In the short term, identification of accident black spots that keep occurring in the accident statistics and make recommendations for alterations in the traffic management that will improve safety for cyclists.

   

In the medium terms, recognise that a primary reason for deaths and serious injuries to cyclists is integrated urban traffic especially the mix of cyclists and very heavy vehicles and to move to limiting speed, weight restrictions and other planned traffic management proposals that will cut the number of fatalities in the City and surrounding towns.

    

In the long term, seek to improve existing cycle lanes by removing gaps that leave cyclists unsure where they should go, maximising the provision of clearly marked separate cycle lanes on the road or on pavements if necessary and space permits, and investigating where off-road cycle tracks could be.

 

Councillor David William’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(10)     Fair Pay – (Proposer Councillor Sam Hollick, seconder Councillor David Williams)

 

This Council understands that a more equal society is better for all.

We are proud, that Council staff, are now paid at least a living wage, setting a precedent as a major employer in Oxford that pay should meet the cost of living, rather than submitting to arguments about the market rate for labour.

This Council notes that between 2009 and 2010, senior executives received average pay rises of 23%, while the average pay rise given to staff taking into account the impact of inflation was effectively a pay cut. 

In the interests of promoting greater equality, this Council resolves to:

(1)       Publish the highest-to-lowest pay ratio for directly employed      Council staff, including all forms of remuneration in the           calculation of pay.

(2)       Commit to distributing any further pay increases to all staff         fairly, such that the highest-to-lowest pay ratio does           not increase and sets as an aim to narrow that differential.

 

            (3)       Request all organisations that hold contracts with the Council to                        publish their highest-to-lowest pay ratio.

 

 

Councillor Bob Price submitted an amendment to delete all the words and replace with the following:

 

Council has noted the findings of a number of authoritative research studies which demonstrate that societies with a more equal distribution of income are more successful both economically and socially. It has also noted the successful reduction in poverty levels secured by the Labour governments between 1997 and 2010, and would support further measures to reduce the massive disparities in income in the UK.

 

We are proud that the Labour Group’s initiative to establish the Oxford Living Wage as the minimum level of pay for our staff and for organisations that hold contracts with the Council. This has set a clear example to other major Oxford employers that pay levels should take account of the local cost of living.

 

Council notes that its pay policy is published annually in March and that this policy sets the ratio of maximum to minimum pay at 1:7. This policy is reviewed and approved annually and the Council will assess each year whether pay agreements provide any basis for a further narrowing of that ratio.

 

Council resolves through its procurement policies, to ask all successful contractors to publish their ratio of maximum to minimum pay levels.

 

Councillor Sam Hollick submitted an amendment to his own Motion on Notice to delete all the words and replace with the following:

 

Council has noted the findings of a number of authoritative research studies which demonstrate that societies with a more equal distribution of income are more successful both economically and socially.  It was also noted the successful reduction of poverty levels secured by the Labour Government between 1997 and 2010, although, according to the National Equality Panel, the gap between rich and poor grew.  Council would support further measures to reduce the massive disparities in income in the UK.

 

We are proud that the Councils Oxford Living Wage Initiative (motion of 19^th November 2007) agreed to a minimum level of pay for our staff and for organisation that hold contracts with the Council.  This has set a clear example to other major Oxford employers that pay levels should take account of the local cost of living.

 

Council notes that its pay policy statement is published annually in March and that this statement reports the ration of minimum to maximum pay (1:7 in 2012).  Council commits to setting the current ration of 1:7 as a maximum in future pay negotiations.

 

Council resolves through its procurement policies to ask all successful contractors to publish their ration of minimum to maximum pay levels.

 

Councillor Sam Hollicks Motion on Notice and his amendment and Councillor Price’s amendment were considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(11)     Bee Colony Collapse – (Proposer Councillor David Williams, seconder Councillor Elise Benjamin)

 

In line with the current petition to Government by Friends of the Earth, and the ever growing scientific evidence this Council is concerned that the Government has not followed the lead of a large numbers of European states such as France and Germany and banned the pesticides neonicotinoides.

 

With the recent publication of evidence from scientists at the US Department of Agriculture Bee Research Laboratory, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research and the UK’s Keele University indicating strongly that the major cause of Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (BCCD) is the range of chemicals known as neonicotinoides this Council believes that there is an urgent need to protect bees in Oxfordshire from these potentially dangerous chemicals which are now being used in the UK.

 

The issue is of great concern in Oxfordshire for the area is known for its high quality bee keeping and breeding, the local honey firms and the large acreage that is under cultivation that requires pollination by bees.   

Given that bees nationally and internationally play a vital role in maintaining food stocks this Council calls on the Secretary of State to impose an immediate ban on the pesticides sold as imidacloprid and clothianidin which are believed by the scientific community to be behind the phenomena known as BCCD.  In following this approach the Minister will bring the UK in line with very large numbers of European states that have already banned the named neonicotinoid chemicals?

 

Councillor David Williams submitted an amendment to his Motion on Notice, to include a new second paragraph as follows:

 

The recently published European Food Safety Authority report that concludes that there is a clear link between falling bee populations and  the use of  neonicotinoides  adds even more scientific evidence that these chemicals should be band.

 

Councillor Williams Motion on Notice and his amendment were not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(12)     Ethical Procurement – (Proposer Councillor Sam Hollick, seconder Councillor Elise Benjamin)

 

The Tax Justice Network estimates that £12 billion is lost to the UK every year due to tax avoidance by large corporations. This is money that could be used to pay for services provided by this council.

 

The practice of tax avoidance is particularly offensive in the current economic climate, where the funding of services used by the majority of people is being cut. Additionally, it is simply inequality that wealthy corporations and individuals should be able to avoid paying their contribution when the people of Oxford are paying their taxes.

 

Our duty to serve the people of Oxford, and our commitment to reduce inequality, are undermined by investing in, or procuring services from, corporations that arrange their operations with the purpose of avoiding tax.

 

Therefore, this council

 

(1)      Resolves to adopt procurement and investment policies that                               seek to avoid companies that avoid tax;

 

(2)      Instructs officers to make arrangements to redirect current

                        investment in tax avoiding companies.

 

Councillor Hollick’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(13)     Badger Cull – (Proposer David Williams, seconder Councillor Craig Simmons)

 

The Council is concerned that although the Government has temporarily suspended its proposed cull of badgers the commitment to kill these creatures may be taken up again.

 

This is an important issue for Oxford where the badger is one of our largest native wildlife mammals and an important animal in the bio diversity of the City.

 

During this period of extended consultation the Council would submit to the relevant Government Minister the conclusion that a cull of badgers is not the most cost effective way to resolve the issue of bovine TB and certainly not the most humane.

 

The Government should be aware of a new vaccine that is now available for cattle that safeguards against TB and does not transfer antibodies into the food chain.  Such a vaccine makes culling unnecessary and a waste of public funds.

 

The Council believes that the monies allocated to staffing the extermination units should now be directed to an inoculation programme which would be easier to conduct, ultimately far cheaper to deliver and would save one of the gentlest animals in the Oxfordshire countryside.  

 

Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the relevant Minister expressing these opinions on behalf of the Council.

 

Councillor Williams Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(14)     Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) as a consultee on pub-related planning applications – (Proposer Councillor Elise Benjamin)

 

CAMRA, (the Campaign for Real Ale) is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. Formed in 1971, CAMRA has 144,878 members across the world, and has been described as the most successful consumer campaign in Europe.  CAMRA has an active Oxford Group including a Planning Sub-Committee.

CAMRA supports well-run pubs as the centres of community life – whether in rural or urban areas – and believes their continued existence plays a critical social and economic role in UK culture.

Council acknowledges that CAMRA have valuable experience that should be given significant weight when determining planning applications with regard to public houses.

Council resolves:

(1)       to include the local CAMRA branch as a statutory consultee       on        pub-related planning applications.

(2)       that officers should use the Viability Test produced by     CAMRA          for use by Local Planning Authorities whenever the viability of a     pub is questioned in relation to a planning application.

 

Councillor Benjamin’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(15)     Government cuts and children – (Proposer Councillor John Tanner)

 

This Council believes that children should be protected from the Governments cuts in public spending. But we are fearful that child poverty is increasing in Oxford, and will increase further, under the Coalition.  

 

Housing Benefit is now only paid based on the cheapest 30% of private rents over a wider area. This makes most private rents in Oxford unaffordable for many working families with children. Child benefit continues to be frozen in spite of the rising costs of food and fuel. Benefits paid to those of working age are now linked to the (lower) Consumer Prices index instead of the Retail Prices Index. Many families will be worse off with the changes to the rules for tax credits.

 

More changes for the worse are coming next April. They include the “bedroom tax”, the “benefit cap” plus cuts in Council Tax Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and the Social Fund. All of this is before the move to replace six existing benefits with Universal Credit beginning in October 2013. Yet more cuts damaging children’s lives may be announced by the Chancellor on 5 December.

 

This Council calls on the Coalition Government to tax millionaires and not push children into poverty.’

 

Councillor Tanner’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(16)     Practicality of monthly payments – The Universal Credit –            (Proposer Councillor Mike Rowley)

 

This Council notes the serious concerns that have been raised about monthly direct payments of "universal credit" by many charities and professional organisations, with Crisis warning the Government that the system of monthly payments "fails to recognise that many employees are paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis, especially in low paid work.  People used to receiving more regular payments may struggle to manage their finances across a month long period".

 

This Council deplores the potentially seriously damaging effect on gender equality and child poverty, as the Women's Resource and Development Agency have pointed out: "It is estimated that in 80 per cent of cases Universal Credit will be paid to the male partner in the household.  This is a hugely retrograde step in terms of progressing gender equality and, we would contend, tackling child poverty.  We are very concerned about the transfer of resources from the purse to the wallet and the backward step in terms of enabling women’s financial autonomy."

 

This Council, further notes that Citizens' Advice have calculated that 8.5 million people in Britain have never used the internet and a further 14.5 million people have limited computer skills.  We are deeply concerned therefore that some 37% of the population, almost certainly including a disproportionate percentage of benefit claimants, will find it difficult to obtain what they are entitled to if they have to apply online, and help in person is not easily accessible.

 

This Council believes that, at the very least, the category of "vulnerable" claimants, to be awarded exceptions from this regime of payment, should be drawn broadly, and include residents with problematic credit and debt problems as well as those with health problems or a disability making money management difficult.

 

This Council urges the Government to think again about the practicality of monthly payments and of online benefit claims; and requests the Leader and the Chief Executive write to the Prime Minister making our views known.

 

Councillor Rowley’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(17)     Affordable Childcare - Return to work programme – (Proposer Councillor Gill Sanders)

 

This Council is concerned at the impact on the return to work programme of the lack of affordable child care and urges the County Council to look at what is available in the City and what is affordable. Council further urges the Government to makes sure adequate funds are available for to fund child care on an adequate scale.

 

Councillor Sanders Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.

 

(18)     More investment in Money Advice – (Proposer Councillor Val Smith)

 

This Council urges more investment into money advice. The Universal Credit - the Bedroom Tax - the Housing Benefit Cap are causing lots of concern and families and others in the City will need advice to prepare them for these changes will start as early as April next year.

 

Councillor Smith’s Motion on Notice was not considered as the time allowed for Motions on Notice by the Constitution had lapsed.

 

(19)     Setting a carbon target – (Proposer Councillor Van Coulter)

 

Council notes that the long-awaited Energy Bill has at last been published by the national government.

 

However, Council regrets that the government has decided to defer making a decision about setting carbon emission targets until after the next general election.

 

This will distract focus from the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for the urgent need to promote sustainable generation of "clean" energy.

 

Yet again, the government's actions show-up that it is not - and never was - "the greenest government ever".

 

The delay in target setting will make it hard for our nation to meet our long-term emissions targets under the Climate Change Act.

           

The implications of climate risk are clear. In many respects these risks are greatest for the most vulnerable, the poor and the elderly in our communities.

 

Climate risk requires action now.

 

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister to spell out that Council deplores the omission of a carbon target from the Energy Bill - and Council requests that the leaders of all political groups within Oxford City Council co-sign the letter to express our united concerns to the Prime Minister.

 

Councillor Jean Fooks submitted an amendment as follows:

 

Insert the word “coalition” in the second line before the word “Government”.

 

Insert a new second paragraph to read “It welcomes the establishment of a new legislative framework to deliver secure, affordable and low carbon energy, and the availability of the £110 billion investment needed to replace current generating capacity and upgrade the national grid by 2020.  Council notes the Government will triple the support available for electricity generation from renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage.

 

Delete the following words in the original second paragraph “making a decision about” and insert the following new words “a decarbonisation target” after the word “setting”.

 

Add the following words to the original third paragraph “risks” in the first line after the word “This” and the words “increase energy efficiency to reduce demand” in the second line after the word “to”.

 

Delete the whole of the original fourth paragraph.

 

Insert a new sixth paragraph to read “ Council is concerned at the immediate impact of rising energy process while noting that Government expects that average household bills will be 7% or £94 lower by 2020”.

 

Delete the words “Climate risk requires action now” in the original seventh paragraph and insert a new seventh paragraph to read “Council reaffirms its wish to be a lead authority in tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions.  It resolves to do all it can to improve the energy efficiency of its own property and to assist home-owners and private tenants to reduce their energy usage and costs with advice and grants, including taking advantage of the Green Deal proposals.

 

Amend the final paragraph to read “Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Local MP’s and the Prime Minister expressing Councils concern at the omission of a decarbonisation target from the energy Bill, putting at risk the Government’s claim to be the greenest Government ever.  Delete the words “and Council requests that the Leaders of all political groups within Oxford City Council co sign the letter to express out united concerns to the Prime Minister.

 

Councillor Coulter’s Motion on Notice and Councillor Fook’s amendment were not considered as the time allowed by the Constitution for Motions on Notice had lapsed.