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Motion 1 – Winter Fuel Payments
 
That Council approves the
following motion:-
 
“The Labour
Government’s decision to block Winter Fuel Payments for
pensioners who do not receive benefits such as pension credit will
impact around 57,000 pensioners in North Northants. This will
affect the health & well-being of our poorest older
residents.
 
44% of pensioners entitled to
pension credit do not claim it. Many pensioners are too proud to
ask for means tested benefits or could find it difficult to manage
the 22 page application form to apply for pension
credit.
 
Pensioners have received this
payment without means testing since its inception. Following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fuel costs have increased, and
the Government is raising the energy price cap by 10% this winter.
There is also a prediction that the price cap will rise another 3%
in early 2025.
 
Pensioners will therefore need
the winter fuel allowance more than ever as without it, many
vulnerable pensioners will be forced to choose between heating and
eating.
 
Therefore, this Council calls
upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister and
Chancellor of the Exchequer  asking them
to reverse the decision to stop Winter Fuel payments for our
pensioners.”
 
Motion 2 – VAT on Private School Fees
 
That Council approves the
following motion:-
 
“The Government has said
that it will remove the exemption for 20% VAT in fees for private
schools. This Council is concerned that this may lead to many
parents having to remove their children from their private school
and send them to a state school. Many parents struggle and go
without to pay for their children’s private education and
would not be able to afford a rise of 20% in the fees.
 
In view of the lack of school
places particularly in our secondary schools, we are concerned that
this will have a big impact on schools in North Northants and on
the pupils.
 
This Council therefore calls on
the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Education to
ask:
 
1.   
What estimates have you made of the effect of this
decision on schools in North Northamptonshire? i.e. How many extra
pupils in what year groups are expected to move to the state
system?
 
2.   
What estimates have been made of the cost to North
Northants Council to provide school places and home to school
transport for these displaced pupils?
 
3.   
Is the Government going to provide new burden
funding for local authorities to cope with the capital cost of
buildings and facilities to cope with this increase in pupils at
our state schools?
 
4.   
Is the Government going to provide funding for local
authorities to cope with the revenue cost for our state schools if
they have sudden influx of new pupils?”