a) To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor John Tippett-Cooper (seconded by Councillor Kathleen Becker):
Winchester City Council Motion: Request for Smartphone Ban Guidance in Hampshire Schools
This Council notes:
1. The growing body of evidence indicating that the unrestricted use of smartphones in schools can negatively affect academic performance, mental health, and social development. Research from 2023 highlights that smartphone distractions impair focus and exacerbate anxiety and cyberbullying among students.
2. The recent “Parent Pact” organised by the campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood in Hampshire received over 3,000 signatures. This involved parents of school students signing a "pact" that they will wait to give their child a smartphone until at least the end of Year 9.
3. That Winchester City Council offers a wide variety of active opportunities for young people across the district, encouraging physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Examples include the successful School Holiday Activity Programmes, which promotes sports and physical activity, as well as support to a number of youth groups and funding of various outdoor facilities such as skate parks, play parks and multi-use games areas (MUGAs), providing valuable alternatives to screen-based activities.
This Council believes:
1. Schools should be safe, focused environments conducive to learning, free from the distractions and pressures associated with smartphone use during school hours.
2. Clear guidance from Hampshire County Council is necessary to support schools in managing smartphone use effectively.
This Council resolves:
1. To call on Hampshire County Council to develop and issue guidance for schools across Hampshire to consider introducing restrictions or bans on smartphone use during school hours, ensuring that students benefit from a more engaged and supportive learning environment. This request (and points 2 and 3) below are to be made to Hampshire County Council through a letter from the Leader of Winchester City Council.
2. To request that Hampshire County Council provide schools with resources, training, and consultation opportunities to ensure the effective implementation of these measures, including engagement with teachers, parents, and students.
3. To ask Hampshire County Council to monitor the impact of any smartphone restrictions on academic performance, pupil behaviour, and mental health, and to report back on the outcomes to enable informed decision-making.
4. Requests the relevant WCC Cabinet lead to engage with the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign to identify potential adjustments to WCC activities that support the aims of the campaign.
By passing this motion, Winchester City Council seeks to support the health, wellbeing, and academic success of school students in the district.
b) To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Neil Bolton (seconded by Councillor Caroline Horrill):
MOTION: Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty
Council Notes:
• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents of the Winchester districtand across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.
• The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this sudden policy change.
• The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
Council believes:
• That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across the Winchester district sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.
• The decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, 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 residents.
• The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need.
Council resolves to:
• Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need.
• Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.
• 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.
• Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in the Winchester district are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, two motions had been submitted for Council.
a) Request for smartphone ban guidance in Hampshire schools.
The first motion submitted was by Councillor Tippett-Cooper and was as set out on the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councillor Becker. Following its introduction by Councillor Tippett-Cooper, Council then debated the matters in the motion. In summary the following points were raised:
appropriate for their school.
the use of mobile phones throughout the school day.
Having reserved her right to speak, the seconder of the motion (Councillor Becker) then addressed Council, followed by the proposer of the motion (Councillor Tippett-Cooper) who exercised his right to respond to debate. The Council then voted on the motion as set out on the agenda.
RESOLVED:
That the motion proposed by Councillor Tippett-Cooper (seconded by Councillor Becker) be supported, and that this Council resolves:
By passing this motion, Winchester City Council seeks to support the health, wellbeing, and academic success of school students in the district.
b) Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty.
The motion was submitted by Councillor Bolton and was as set out on the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councillor Horrill. Following its introduction by Councillor Bolton, Council then debated the matters in the motion. In summary the following points were raised:
AMENDMENT – Moved by Councillor Tod and seconded by Councillor Becker:
Motion – as amended as follows (changes to original motion in bold):
a. MOTION: Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty
Council Notes:
1. The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
2. The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
3. The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents of the Winchester district and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.
4. The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this sudden policy change.
5. The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
Council believes:
1. That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
2. The burden of sorting out the last government's mismanagement of the economy and public services – and the resulting £22bn gap in the country’s finances – should not fall on the most vulnerable.
3. While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across the Winchester district sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.
4. The decision to crudely means-test Winter Fuel Payments, 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 residents.
5. The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need.
Council resolves to:
1.
Bring forward aContinue with its council-led local awareness
campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some
respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most
in need.
2. Request that the Council Leader write to Dr Danny Chambers MP, the MP for Winchester thanking him for his timely challenge to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on September 3, 2024, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty – and to all three of our MPs recognising their vote against the changes and encouraging similar representations on local residents’ behalf.
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. Continue to encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in the Winchester district are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Council recognises that the cost of keeping warm does not just affect pensioners, and so:
a. Welcomes the Government’s extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) until 2025/26 – while backing the LGA’s call for a more integrated, preventative, community-based approach to local welfare, to improve outcomes for low-income households.
b. Will continue to support the retrofit of inadequately insulated houses
c. Will continue to provide information about how all residents can get help with the pressures of increased fuel bills.
The Mayor called for a short adjournment to the meeting whilst the amendment was circulated in writing and then for the groups to discuss its detail therein.
Upon its reconvening, as the Mayor was satisfied that there had been adequate debate of the original motion by Council, the Mayor called the proposer of the Amendment (Councillor Tod) to introduce it, before the meeting proceeded to debate the matters in the Amendment.
In summary the following points were raised:
Having reserved her right to speak, the seconder of the Amendment (Councillor Becker) then addressed Council and then at the conclusion of debate, Councillor Bolton (as proposer of the original Motion) was invited to exercise his right of reply before Council voted on the Amendment.
As it was the request of at least five members present (as is required by the council’s constitution regarding on recorded votes) a recorded vote was taken on the Amendment before Council.
The following Members voted in favour of the Amendment before Council:
No Members voted against the Amendment before Council.
The following Members abstained from voting on the Amendment before Council:
The following Members (who were present) did not vote:
MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
That the motion proposed by Bolton (seconded by Councillor Horrill) and as amended by Councillor Tod (seconded by Councillor Becker) be supported, and that this Council resolves:
1. Continue with its council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need.
2. Request that the Council Leader write to Dr Danny Chambers MP, the MP for Winchester thanking him for his timely challenge to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on September 3, 2024, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty – and to all three of our MPs recognising their vote against the changes and encouraging similar representations on local residents’ behalf.
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. Continue to encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in the Winchester district are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Council recognises that the cost of keeping warm does not just affect pensioners, and so:
a. Welcomes the Government’s extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) until 2025/26 – while backing the LGA’s call for a more integrated, preventative, community-based approach to local welfare, to improve outcomes for low-income households.
b. Will continue to support the retrofit of inadequately insulated houses
c. Will continue to provide information about how all residents can get help with the pressures of increased fuel bills.