Agenda item

Bournemouth Women’s Refuge

The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor D Farr and seconded by Councillor H Allen: -

There has been no scrutiny of the decision to close Bournemouth's only Women’s Refuge for those fleeing abusive relationships.

We ask the decision be reversed and the council's policy on social care for vulnerable individuals escaping domestic violence must be fully scrutinised before committee.

Council Elections Voting System

The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor J Salmon and seconded by Councillor Oliver Walters.

This Council believes that the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system used for local elections does not fully reflect the diverse political preferences of our electorate. We propose that the Leader of the Council contacts the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and requests that BCP Councils 2027 local elections are used as an opportunity to trial an alternative Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.

Background:

1. Electoral Fairness:
   • The FPTP system often results in disproportionate representation, where the distribution of seats does not accurately reflect the share of votes each party receives.
   • STV is a proportional representation system that aims to allocate seats more fairly, ensuring that the majority of votes contribute to the election outcome.
2. Voter Empowerment:
   • Under FPTP electors are frequently pressured to vote for candidates they do not favour out of fear of one they dislike even more being successful.
   • Under FPTP any votes cast for the candidate who is not successful are simply ignored.
   • STV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, reducing wasted votes and empowering voters to express nuanced preferences.
3. Encouraging Positive Campaigning:
   • FPTP can encourage negative campaigning as parties focus on winning narrow pluralities.
   • STV incentivizes positive campaigning, as candidates must seek not only first-choice votes but also second and third preferences from a broader electorate.
4. Successful Implementation Elsewhere:
   • STV is already successfully used in several other democracies and in various elections within the United Kingdom, such as the Northern Ireland Assembly and local elections in Scotland.

Proposal:

1. This Council instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government requesting that legislation be passed to allow the trial of STV in the 2027 local elections noting that BCP Council would be happy to pilot STV.

Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and protecting pensioners from fuel poverty

The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor P Broadhead and seconded by Councillor B Dove: -

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 in the BCP Council area alone could see 75,627 pensioners lose their fuel allowance, and which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners across the UK 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 BCP Council areaand 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 BCP Council regionsit 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:

(a)           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.

(b)           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.

(c)           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.

(d)           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 across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pooleare supported in claiming their entitlement.