Agenda item

Councillor Jim Grant will move:

“This Council notes:

·       The recent announcement that free TV Licences for the over 75s will no longer be a universal benefit, with most people of that age no longer qualifying for this concession.

·       The benefits TV Licenses have for many older people in staving off isolation and loneliness, key areas the Council are looking to reduce within the borough.

·       The Conservative party promised to maintain free TV licences for the duration of this Parliament in their 2017 General Election Manifesto.

This Council calls on the Government to honour the Conservative Party’s 2017 manifesto promise to maintain free TV licences for the over-75s for the duration of this Parliament by ensuring sufficient funding to do so and, should the BBC propose changes to the concession, to ensure that the proposed changes are subject to parliamentary consent.

The Council requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport and Swindon’s two Members of Parliament setting out the Council’s position.”

Councillor Jim Grant will move and Councillor Kevin Small will second:

 “This Council notes:

·     The recent announcement that free TV Licences for the over 75s will no longer be a universal benefit, with most people of that age no longer qualifying for this concession.

·     The benefits TV Licenses have for many older people in staving off isolation and loneliness, key areas the Council are looking to reduce within the Borough.

·     The Conservative party promised to maintain free TV licences for the duration of this Parliament in their 2017 General Election Manifesto.

This Council calls on the Government to honour the Conservative Party’s 2017 manifesto promise to maintain free TV licences for the over-75s for the duration of this Parliament by ensuring sufficient funding to do so and, should the BBC propose changes to the concession, to ensure that the proposed changes are subject to parliamentary consent.

The Council requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport and Swindon’s two Members of Parliament setting out the Council’s position.”

          With the agreement of the Council, Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Brian Ford seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council notes:

·       The 2015 announcement that free TV Licences for the over 75s will be funded by the BBC.

·       The recent decision by the BBC that only over 75s who are on pension credit will continue to receive free TV licenses.

·       The benefits TV Licenses have for many older people in staving off isolation and loneliness - key areas that the Council are looking to reduce within the borough.Less elderly people have access to the internet, online social media or even daily newspapers, and rely on TV to maintain contact with the wider world.

·       The Conservative party promised to maintain free TV licences for the duration of this Parliament in their 2017 General Election Manifesto.

This Council:

·       Calls on the Government to find ways to continue allowing free TV licences for all over-75s.

·       Requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport and Swindon’s two Members of Parliament setting out the Council’s position.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and was carried being the Substantive Motion.

          Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded that the Substantive Motion be amended to read:

“This Council notes:

·       The 2015 announcement that free TV Licences for the over 75s will be funded by the BBC.

·       The recent decision by the BBC that only over 75s who are on pension credit will continue to receive free TV licenses.

·       The benefits TV Licenses have for many older people in staving off isolation and loneliness - key areas that the Council are looking to reduce within the borough.Less elderly people have access to the internet, online social media or even daily newspapers, and rely on TV to maintain contact with the wider world.

·       The Conservative party promised to maintain free TV licences for the duration of this Parliament in their 2017 General Election Manifesto.

This Council:

·       Calls on the Government to find ways to continue allowing free TV licences for all over-75s.

·       Requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport and Swindon’s two Members of Parliament and the Director General of the BBC setting out the Council’s position.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and declared carried becoming the Substantive Motion.

          The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.