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• 01

  Appointment of Relief Chair

  

  To appoint a relief Chair.

• 02

  Minutes

  

  To sign the Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 15 May 2024.

  DRAFT Council Minutes - 15.05.24

• 03

  Lord Mayor's Communications

  

  To receive the Lord Mayor’s communications.

   

  Lord Mayor Communications

• 04

  Declarations of Interest

  

• 05

  Statement on Urgent Matters

  

• 06

  Councillor presented Petitions and Deputations, if any

  

  (a)        Councillor Sara Hassan to present a petition calling on the Council to Pedestrianise the portion of Formosa Street between Castellain Road and Warrington Crescent.

   

  (b)        Any other Councillor presented Petitions or Deputations.

   

• 07

  Public Participation

  

  The Lord Mayor will invite members of the public who have been chosen to present their question or petition. After which the relevant Cabinet Member or Committee Chair will respond.

   

• 08

  Questions

  

  The Lord Mayor will call Members who have indicated that they wish to ask a question after the Leader of the Opposition has asked their questions.

   

• 09

  Councillor Issue

  

  Councillor Shamsed Chowdhury – ‘Issues with Illegal Short-Term Lets’

   

• 10

  Party Business

  

• 11

  Updated Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) Instrument of Governance Report

  

  To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains recommendations to the Council for approval and adoption.

  Updated Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) Instrument of Governance Report

  Appendix 1 - WAES Governance Instrument 2024 (2)

  Appendix 2 - Revision to Chapter 6 of the Constitution (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) (3)

• 12

  Annual Report of the Audit and Performance Committee

  

  To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains a recommendation to the Council for approval.

   

  A&P Covering Report

  Annual Report of the Audit and Performance Committee - July 2024

  Appendix 2 Audit and Performance Committee Self assessment and Action Plan - July 2024

• 13

  Policy on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks for Councillors Report

  

  To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains a recommendation to the Council for approval and adoption.

   

  DBS Checks - Covering Report

  GPC Report_DBS Checks for Councillors

  WCC_DBS_Policy

• 14

  Biennial Standards Committee Report

  

  To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains a recommendation to the Council for approval.

   

  Report to Council - Biennial Report

  Biennial Standards Committee Report 2022-2024

• 15

  Notice of Motion

  

  Opposition Party Motion – Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Pensioners from Fuel Poverty

   

  To be moved by Councillor Lorraine Dean and seconded by Councillor Tim Mitchell.

   

  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, potentially impacting 25,793 pensioners in Westminster.

   

  •         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 Westminster during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

   

  •         The criticism from Age UK 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 pensioners across Westminster 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.

   

  •         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 Westminster are supported in claiming their entitlement.

   

  •         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.

   

   

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• 

  DRAFT Council Minutes - 15.05.24

• 

  Lord Mayor Communications

• 

  Updated Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) Instrument of Governance Report

• 

  Appendix 1 - WAES Governance Instrument 2024 (2)

• 

  Appendix 2 - Revision to Chapter 6 of the Constitution (Scheme of Delegation to Officers) (3)

• 

  A&P Covering Report

• 

  Annual Report of the Audit and Performance Committee - July 2024

• 

  Appendix 2 Audit and Performance Committee Self assessment and Action Plan - July 2024

• 

  DBS Checks - Covering Report

• 

  GPC Report_DBS Checks for Councillors

• 

  WCC_DBS_Policy

• 

  Report to Council - Biennial Report

• 

  Biennial Standards Committee Report 2022-2024

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