Agenda

In accordance with Rule No. 3.3.3 the following question has been submitted to the Council.

Question from Councillor Roger Jackson to Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection & Community Relations:

"In light of the recent disclosure that some food outlets in parts of the country are not displaying the correct food hygiene score for their premises, has Newark & Sherwood District Council come across this problem?"

Building Regulations

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Jackson will move and Councillor R Holloway, will second a motion to the following effect:

“There continues to be pressure for renewable energy solutions such as solar to address our moves towards achieving net zero. A simple way we could help and reduce pressure for solar farms taking up valuable agricultural land would be to require all new housing and warehouses to incorporate solar panels. I know that Part L of the Building Regulations goes some way towards this but I think we can and should go further. I would ask that the Council considers how it could introduce such a policy in the future and that it writes to Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask that Building Regulations are strengthened in order to require solar panels on all new developments as standard.”

Winter Fuel Allowance

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor R Holloway will move and Councillor T Smith, will second a motion to the following effect:

“The Labour Government has chosen to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as recently announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

We know that the Winter Fuel Payments play a significant role in helping older residents of Newark and Sherwood and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

It is nationally acknowledged that this 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, this will have a direct impact on 23,970 Pensioners across the Newark and Sherwood District.

Many of those Pensioners will have been relying on this payment to see them through the coldest winter months and now have no time to set money aside to meet the rising cost of keeping warm.

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.

This Council resolves to:

•      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.

•      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 Newark and Sherwood are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls

In accordance with the Rule No. 3.4.3, Councillor P Taylor will move and Councillor M Shakeshaft, will second a motion to the following effect:

“The aim of the motion is to express the seriousness  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government

Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items

of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt

information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.