Agenda item

Report attached.

 

Rules of Debate

 

·         Each motion shall be debated for no more than 20 minutes before being put to the vote.

·         No more than one and a half hours in totality shall be allowed at each meeting for the debate of all motions.

1)         Winter Fuel Allowance Support

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Marlene Haworth and seconded by Councillor Danny Cassidy, with support from signatories Councillors Josh Allen, Loraine Cox, Zak Khan and Kath Pratt, under Council Procedure Rule A9:

 

“The impact of withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners across the country will be felt hard particularly in Hyndburn.

 

The starts of the year are often the coldest, putting our older, vulnerable residents at risk.

 

Some local authorities are using the Household Support Fund to cover the shortfall for their most vulnerable residents.

 

This motion makes a request to the Cabinet to authorise widening the eligibility of the Household Support Fund to provide for extra support this winter.  As well, to write to Sarah Smith MP and the Chancellor urging them to reverse the cut.”

 

The following AMENDMENT was moved by Councillor Noordad Aziz and seconded by Councillor Scott Brerton:

 

• The insertion of the word “some” between the words “for” and “pensioners” in sentence 1;

 

• The insertion of the following words after sentence 1,as part of the same paragraph:

 

“However, the Council has undertaken an exercise to increase the uptake of Pension Credit in the Borough and thereby shielding the poorest pensioners in the Borough from this cut.”;

 

• The deletion of sentences 3 and 4, commencing  “Some local authorities…” and ending “…reverse the cut.”;

 

• The insertion of new sentences 3 and 4 as follows:

 

“The Council recognises that Hyndburn’s Household Support Fund criteria allows for all residents to apply to cover the shortfall in their finances.

 

We also resolve to write to Sarah Smith MP and the Chancellor where possible to help the poorest in our society.”.

 

The Mayor asked the permission of the meeting for a brief adjournment, which was granted.

 

The meeting recommenced at 9.18pm.

 

Councillor Khan spoke against the amendment and commented that take up of the Household Support Fund was low.  Councillors Fazal, Younis, Smithson and Cassidy also spoke against the amendment.

 

Councillors Pritchard, Clements, Clegg and Fisher spoke in favour of the amendment.

 

Councillor Anderson expressed disappointment that a cross-party statement could not be agreed. She would have preferred the motion to be deferred to try to enable a consensus to be reached.  Councillor Gilbert indicated that he provided military style survival blankets for charities, which councillors could access thorough him in an emergency on behalf of their residents.

 

Councillor Haworth replied to the amendment asking members not to support it, to enable the original motion to be adopted.

 

On being put to the VOTE the AMENDMENT was CARRIED

 

Whereupon the substantive motion was put.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.5, six members present requested a recorded vote, the outcome of which was a follows:

 

For

 

Councillors Anderson, Aziz, Booth, Brerton, Button. Clegg, Clements, Dad, Dawson, Eaves, Fisher, Gilbert, Parkins, Pritchard, Walsh and Whitehead.

 

Against

 

Councillors Addison, Cassidy, L Cox, Edwards, Fazal, Haworth, Khan, Smithson, Walker and Younis

 

Abstain

 

Councillors P Cox, McKenna and Yates

 

Accordingly, the substantive Motion was CARRIED.

 

Resolved                                    -    The impact of withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance for some pensioners across the country will be felt hard particularly in Hyndburn.

 

The starts of the year are often the coldest, putting our older, vulnerable residents at risk.

 

The Council recognises that Hyndburn’s Household Support Fund criteria allows for all residents to apply to cover the shortfall in their finances.

 

We also resolve to write to Sarah Smith MP and the Chancellor where possible to help the poorest in our society

 

2)         Peer Review Improvements

 

This motion had been withdrawn, as noted at Minute 286 above.

 

3)         Reverse Anti-business Tax Rises

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Zak Khan and seconded by Councillor Mohammed Younis, with support from signatories Councillors Josh Allen, Danny Cassidy, Loraine Cox, Marlene Haworth and Kath Pratt, under Council Procedure Rule A9:

 

“Business confidence in the UK has experienced a sharp decline after Labour's anti-growth, anti-business Autumn budget.  Rising costs and reduced confidence, a drop in GDP and productivity, has been the result.

 

Many companies will pass these costs onto customers or in lesser pay rises. They will avoid taking on new employees, at a time we need to get more people back to work.

 

Our businesses are not a result of economic growth; they drive our economic growth.  In Hyndburn, small businesses will struggle to absorb these costs, risking their existence.

 

We believe in creating an environment in which our businesses can thrive, making our country more prosperous and allowing them to invest in our communities.

 

As such, we propose for the Leader of the Council to write to our MP, Sarah Smith, and the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, asking them to reverse these far-reaching and damaging tax rises in employers national insurance.

 

Locally, we urge the Council to do more to mitigate the impacts from the budget.  The Economic Investment Strategy, voted on by this Council, should be fast-tracked to give businesses the confidence to invest in our Borough.”

 

The following AMENDMENT was moved by Councillor Scott Brerton and seconded by Councillor Noordad Aziz:

 

• The deletion of the words in sentence 1 “...Labour’s anti-growth, anti-business Autumn budget.” and the substitution of the words “…a period of challenges.”;

 

• Sentence 2, commencing “Rising costs…” to form the start of a new paragraph and the addition of the following words after that sentence.

 

“This places some extra pressure on some businesses.”;

 

• The deletion of the original paragraphs 2 and 3 comprising the words “Many companies…” and ending “…risking their existence.”;

 

• The deletion of the following words in the original paragraph 5: “…asking them to reverse these far-reaching and damaging tax rises in employers national insurance.” and the substitution of the words “…requesting them to keep taxation as low as realistically possible and making sure everyone pays their fair share.”;

 

• In sentence 1 of the original paragraph 6, the insertion of the words “to continue” between “…the Council…” and “…to do more…” and the deletion of the words “…impacts from the budget.” and the substitution of the words “…economic challenges.”;

 

• In sentence 2 of the original paragraph 6, the insertion of the words “continue to” between “…Council, should…” and “…be fast-tracked…”;

 

• At the end of sentence 2 of the original paragraph 6, the addition of the words “…, especially now with the opportunities devolution may bring.”.

 

Councillor Khan spoke against the amendment and commented that the proposed amendment diluted the message that would be given by the Council to businesses.

 

Councillors Clegg, Pritchard and Aziz spoke in favour of the amendment.

 

On being put to the VOTE the AMENDMENT was CARRIED

 

Whereupon the substantive motion was put.

 

Resolved                                    -    Business confidence in the UK has experienced a sharp decline aftera period of challenges.

 

Rising costs and reduced confidence, a drop in GDP and productivity, has been the result.  This places some extra pressure on some businesses.

 

We believe in creating an environment in which our businesses can thrive, making our country more prosperous and allowing them to invest in our communities.

 

As such, we propose for the Leader of the Council to write to our MP, Sarah Smith, and the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, requesting them to keep taxation as low as realistically possible and making sure everyone pays their fair share

 

Locally, we urge the Council to continue to do more to mitigate the economic challenges.  The Economic Investment Strategy, voted on by this Council, should continue to be fast-tracked to give businesses the confidence to invest in our Borough, especially now with the opportunities devolution may bring.

 

The Mayor reminded councillors that his Charity Ball was due to take place on Saturday 15^th February 2025, from 7.00pm, in the 1968 Lounge, at Accrington Stanley FC’s Wham Stadium.  Tickets were now on sale.

 

The Mayor thanked all for their attendance tonight and then closed the meeting.