Agenda item

Notice of Motion Regarding "Tackling Social Isolation : Opposing the Ending of Free TV Licenses for the Over 75s" - Given By Councillor Cate McDonald and To Be Seconded By Councillor Jayne Dunn

That this Council:-

 

(a)       believes this Government have broken their promise to protect older people and notes that not only has funding for adult social care been slashed, plunging countless older people into loneliness, but from June 2020 the over 75s will be stripped of their free TV licence;

 

(b)       notes the hardship that this will cause to many nationally and here in Sheffield:-

 

(i)         there are an estimated 43,000 people in Sheffield over 75, and over three quarters will lose their free licence;

 

(ii)        half of all over 75s are living with a disability, and many rely on their TV for companionship and entertainment;

 

(iii)       for those who don't have the internet, TV lets them stay up to date with what's happening in the world; and

 

(iv)       nearly a third of over 75s are living in poverty or just above the poverty line;

 

(c)        believes that forcing pensioners to fork out £154.50 per year is an act of cruelty, and that it is not the BBC who are to blame for this, but a government who have failed to do enough and have broken their 2017 Conservative Party Election Manifesto to maintain free TV licenses;

 

(d)       notes that under the new plans, only older people who receive a benefit called Pension Credit will receive a free TV licence, but two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit – about 1.2 million pensioners – are not getting it, with some not knowing they can claim and many struggling to apply, and that often these people are some of the poorest in our society;

 

(e)       notes the widespread opposition to the plans, and that over 634,000 people signed Age UK’s petition against the plans;

 

(f)        notes that the 2011 Pensions Act, enacted under the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government, changed the age of retirement for women, forcing many born in the 1950s to work much longer before retirement and, crucially, that this was implemented at such short notice that many women were not able to plan accordingly for this; and, in addition, notes the hard work of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) movement and the commitment to them shown by Labour;

 

(g)       believes that older people deserve fairer treatment than this, and notes that Labour will oppose any cuts to universal pensioner benefits, and have pledged to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance and bus passes for pensioners;

 

(h)       notes the hard work being undertaken within the Council to tackle social isolation, including the creation of the Sheffield Directory website to help people to get the right information and support to help them stay independent and live well in their local area, and further notes that this Administration works closely with organisations like Age UK, MIND, Mencap, Disability Sheffield, Alzheimer’s Society and the Carers Centre to run support groups and activities, including dementia cafes; and

 

(i)         welcomes that partners in Sheffield are working together to develop the Age Friendly Sheffield project and, as noted in the recently published strategy, “Age Friendly Sheffield strives to create well connected community environments that promote opportunities for older citizens to feel less isolated, more socially included and to remain physically and mentally active as they age”.

 

 

Minutes:

7.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Cate McDonald, and formally seconded by Councillor Jayne Dunn, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       believes this Government have broken their promise to protect older people and notes that not only has funding for adult social care been slashed, plunging countless older people into loneliness, but from June 2020 the over 75s will be stripped of their free TV licence;

 

 

 

(b)       notes the hardship that this will cause to many nationally and here in Sheffield:-

 

 

 

(i)         there are an estimated 43,000 people in Sheffield over 75, and over three quarters will lose their free licence;

 

 

 

(ii)        half of all over 75s are living with a disability, and many rely on their TV for companionship and entertainment;

 

 

 

(iii)       for those who don't have the internet, TV lets them stay up to date with what's happening in the world; and

 

 

 

(iv)       nearly a third of over 75s are living in poverty or just above the poverty line;

 

 

 

(c)        believes that forcing pensioners to fork out £154.50 per year is an act of cruelty, and that it is not the BBC who are to blame for this, but a government who have failed to do enough and have broken their 2017 Conservative Party Election Manifesto to maintain free TV licenses;

 

 

 

(d)       notes that under the new plans, only older people who receive a benefit called Pension Credit will receive a free TV licence, but two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit – about 1.2 million pensioners – are not getting it, with some not knowing they can claim and many struggling to apply, and that often these people are some of the poorest in our society;

 

 

 

(e)       notes the widespread opposition to the plans, and that over 634,000 people signed Age UK’s petition against the plans;

 

 

 

(f)        notes that the 2011 Pensions Act, enacted under the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government, changed the age of retirement for women, forcing many born in the 1950s to work much longer before retirement and, crucially, that this was implemented at such short notice that many women were not able to plan accordingly for this; and, in addition, notes the hard work of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) movement and the commitment to them shown by Labour;

 

 

 

(g)       believes that older people deserve fairer treatment than this, and notes that Labour will oppose any cuts to universal pensioner benefits, and have pledged to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance and bus passes for pensioners;

 

 

 

(h)       notes the hard work being undertaken within the Council to tackle social isolation, including the creation of the Sheffield Directory website to help people to get the right information and support to help them stay independent and live well in their local area, and further notes that this Administration works closely with organisations like Age UK, MIND, Mencap, Disability Sheffield, Alzheimer’s Society and the Carers Centre to run support groups and activities, including dementia cafes; and

 

 

 

(i)         welcomes that partners in Sheffield are working together to develop the Age Friendly Sheffield project and, as noted in the recently published strategy, “Age Friendly Sheffield strives to create well connected community environments that promote opportunities for older citizens to feel less isolated, more socially included and to remain physically and mentally active as they age”.

 

 

7.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Sue Auckland, and formally seconded by Councillor Colin Ross, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

 

 

 

1.          the deletion of the words “and the commitment to them shown by Labour” at the end of paragraph (f):-

 

 

 

2.          the substitution, in paragraph (g), of the words “this Administration”, for the word “Labour”; and

 

 

 

3.         the addition of new paragraphs (j) to (m) as follows:-

 

 

 

(j)          requests officers to explore the possible reworking, in conjunction with the Passenger Transport Executive, of the discretionary travel scheme to include some women affected by the changes to pension age, including examining the costs of any scheme and the impact on equalities legislation;

 

 

 

(k)        notes the recent report by Age UK warning that following the means testing of TV licenses, older people may be targeted by criminal fraudsters sending targeted emails requesting payment of the TV license fee;

 

 

 

(l)         requests officers to facilitate and encourage pensioners who are eligible to take up pensioner credit, by providing assistance in navigating the application and to run a Council campaign to increase awareness of the benefit and eligibility; and

 

 

 

(m)       instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to convey this Council’s view that better transitional arrangements are needed for women affected by the changes to pensions.

 

 

7.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Paul Turpin, and formally seconded by Councillor Douglas Johnson, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

 

 

 

1.          the deletion, in paragraph (g), of all the words after the words “believes that older people deserve fairer treatment than this"; and

 

 

 

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (j) to (m) as follows:-

 

 

 

(j)          is fundamentally opposed to the structure of the TV licence, which operates as a kind of poll tax; the poorest citizens in our society paying the same charge as billionaires;

 

 

 

(k)        believes in publicly-funded public service broadcasting, but that it should be funded from a ring fenced portion of progressive taxation;

 

 

 

(l)         regrets that Labour failed to provide funding to prevent the closure of Hurlfield View, which offered vital respite care to families, often elderly people caring for elderly loved ones at home; and

 

 

 

(m)       asks the Chief Executive to report back within three months on the steps that this Council will take to address the issues raised about TV licences for over-75s, including how the Council will promote wider uptake of pensioner credit.

 

 

7.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Sue Auckland was put to the vote and was negatived, except for paragraphs (k) to (m) of part 3 of the amendment, which were carried.

 

 

7.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Paul Turpin was then put to the vote and was negatived.

 

 

7.5.1

(NOTE: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery voted for part 1 and paragraphs (l) and (m) of part 2 of the amendment, and voted against paragraphs (j) and (k) of part 2 of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

 

 

7.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       believes this Government have broken their promise to protect older people and notes that not only has funding for adult social care been slashed, plunging countless older people into loneliness, but from June 2020 the over 75s will be stripped of their free TV licence;

 

 

 

(b)       notes the hardship that this will cause to many nationally and here in Sheffield:-

 

 

 

(i)         there are an estimated 43,000 people in Sheffield over 75, and over three quarters will lose their free licence;

 

 

 

(ii)        half of all over 75s are living with a disability, and many rely on their TV for companionship and entertainment;

 

 

 

(iii)       for those who don't have the internet, TV lets them stay up to date with what's happening in the world; and

 

 

 

(iv)       nearly a third of over 75s are living in poverty or just above the poverty line;

 

 

 

(c)        believes that forcing pensioners to fork out £154.50 per year is an act of cruelty, and that it is not the BBC who are to blame for this, but a government who have failed to do enough and have broken their 2017 Conservative Party Election Manifesto to maintain free TV licenses;

 

 

 

(d)       notes that under the new plans, only older people who receive a benefit called Pension Credit will receive a free TV licence, but two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit – about 1.2 million pensioners – are not getting it, with some not knowing they can claim and many struggling to apply, and that often these people are some of the poorest in our society;

 

 

 

(e)       notes the widespread opposition to the plans, and that over 634,000 people signed Age UK’s petition against the plans;

 

 

 

(f)        notes that the 2011 Pensions Act, enacted under the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government, changed the age of retirement for women, forcing many born in the 1950s to work much longer before retirement and, crucially, that this was implemented at such short notice that many women were not able to plan accordingly for this; and, in addition, notes the hard work of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) movement and the commitment to them shown by Labour;

 

 

 

(g)       believes that older people deserve fairer treatment than this, and notes that Labour will oppose any cuts to universal pensioner benefits, and have pledged to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance and bus passes for pensioners;

 

 

 

(h)       notes the hard work being undertaken within the Council to tackle social isolation, including the creation of the Sheffield Directory website to help people to get the right information and support to help them stay independent and live well in their local area, and further notes that this Administration works closely with organisations like Age UK, MIND, Mencap, Disability Sheffield, Alzheimer’s Society and the Carers Centre to run support groups and activities, including dementia cafes;

 

 

 

(i)         welcomes that partners in Sheffield are working together to develop the Age Friendly Sheffield project and, as noted in the recently published strategy, “Age Friendly Sheffield strives to create well connected community environments that promote opportunities for older citizens to feel less isolated, more socially included and to remain physically and mentally active as they age”;

 

 

 

(j)         notes the recent report by Age UK warning that following the means testing of TV licenses, older people may be targeted by criminal fraudsters sending targeted emails requesting payment of the TV license fee;

 

 

 

(k)        requests officers to facilitate and encourage pensioners who are eligible to take up pensioner credit, by providing assistance in navigating the application and to run a Council campaign to increase awareness of the benefit and eligibility; and

 

 

 

(l)         instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to convey this Council’s view that better transitional arrangements are needed for women affected by the changes to pensions.