Agenda

To receive and note any disclosable pecuniary interests from councillors. In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 July and the extraordinary meeting held on 13 August 2024.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Mayor.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Leader of the Council.

To receive any announcements from the Head of Paid Service, Chief Finance Officer and/or Monitoring Officer.

To receive questions or statements from the public.  Details of any questions (including a written response to them) or requests to make statements received from the public will be set out in the Supplementary Agenda Pack which will be published on the day before the meeting.

To receive any questions from councillors. Details of any questions from councillors (including a written response to them) will be set out in the Supplementary Agenda Pack which will be published on the day before the meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith to propose, and Councillor George Potter to second the following motion:

“Council notes the decision by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits.

Though Council agrees that universal winter fuel payments are not necessary, Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on low incomes will no longer be eligible to receive the benefit as winter approaches. In Guildford borough fewer than 1,500 pensioners will remain eligible to receive winter fuel payments, with 93.7% of pensioners losing their eligibility. The maximum income limit for receiving Pension Credit is £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples), which is significantly lower than the rate of the living wage, and only 63% of those eligible for Pension Credit actually receive it.

Council believes that, while some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, the decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments in this way, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our poorest older resident, especially noting that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October.

Council also notes reports in the media that the Labour Government is additionally intending to abolish the Single Person Council Tax Discount in the autumn budget statement, which currently gives a 25% discount on council tax to households where only a single adult is liable for council tax, which is worth £506 a year for a typical Band C property in Guildford borough.

Council is deeply concerned that any withdrawal, or reduction, in the rate of the single person council tax discount would result in a large and punitive tax rise for many of those least able to afford it, including groups such as young adults, single and widowed parents, lone pensioners, and carers of disabled people, many of whom are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Council resolves to:

(1)  Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately paused and asking her to rule out any change to the Single Person Council Tax Discount in the autumn budget statement.

(2)  Call upon all MPs covering Guildford borough to give their formal support to halting the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility and resisting any reduction in the Single Person Council Tax Discount.

(3)  Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.

(4)  Encourage local efforts to promote the uptake of Pension Credit (and other frequently under-claimed benefits) through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Guildford borough are  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.