Agenda item

To consider motions on the theme submitted by members of the council.

MOTION 1

(See pages 5 - 6  of the main agenda)

The meeting agreed in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14 (4) to allow for a single debate on the Motion 1 and Amendment A.

Councillor Michael Situ, seconded by Councillor Kevin Ahern, moved the motion. 

Councillor Tim McNally, seconded by Councillor Michael Bukola, moved Amendment A.

Following debate (Councillors Andy Simmons, Poddy Clark, Helen Hayes, Norma Gibbes, Columba Blango, Mark Williams, Graham Neale, Cleo Soanes, David Hubber and Sunil Chopra), Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly acknowledges that:

·  10 million people in the UK are over the age of 65 and this will rise to 15.5 million by 2035

·  3 million are over the age of 80 and this is set to double in 20 years time.

2.  That council assembly welcomes and celebrates the fact that we are all living longer and pays tribute to the amazing contribution older people make to Southwark’s diverse communities, economy and society as a whole.

3.  That council assembly calls on members to recognise this contribution and discuss how more can be made of the opportunities that longer lives bring with particular focus on:

·  How the council can recognise the role that people in later life often play in their communities, through volunteering, caring and by playing an active role in neighbourhood life

·  How people in Southwark can take advantage of the wide variety of sporting, educational and social activities available as they get older

·  How the council can promote the greater role that more active grandparents play in their families’ lives

·  How the council can work with the NHS and other partners to give older people more choice in the services they receive, enabling them to live healthy lives and stay in their own homes and communities for longer.

4.  That council assembly also recognises the council’s important role in caring for older people who require care and support.

5.  That council assembly notes that £1.3 billion has already been cut from local council budgets for older people's social care and believes the council should strive to create an adult care system that helps older people to find the support they need, enabling them to live healthy, independent lives in their own communities and homes, rather than retaining a long-term dependency on council services, whilst also protecting our most vulnerable older residents.

6.  That council assembly also recognises that many of the groups in Southwark that provide services to older people have lost their funding through government cuts and so welcomes the council’s “innovation fund” which is enabling local organisations to become more self-sustaining going forward.

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.

MOTION 2 – FAIRER PENSIONS FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN SOUTHWARK

(See pages 6 - 7 of the main agenda)

The time allocated for the themed debate having expired, Motion 2 and its amendment were formally noted having not been moved and seconded at the meeting.