Councillor R Lumsdon to Move
In County Durham approximately 208,500[1] women born after the 1950’s will ultimately be affected by the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with a lack of appropriate notification.
The new SPA will amount to the differing treatment of women affected by the change: for example a woman born 28/4/1953 ( aged 63) received her state pension recently(July 2016) but a woman born 28/4/1954 (exactly one year later – now aged 62) has to wait until November 2019 – staggering 3 years and 4 months longer.
Female employment rates in the North East are among the lowest in the UK. In addition, over time legislative (and cultural) changes have led to a narrowing of employment rates and women are more likely to be in lower paid jobs.
Durham County Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age.
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[1] This is the total number of females aged 64 or below living in the county as of the 2015 ONS mid-year estimates.
Councillor R Ormerod to Move
This council notes:
1. That the Bus Services Bill currently passing through Parliament includes Clause 21 that will effectively “prohibit a local authority from forming a company for the purposes of providing a local bus service”.
2. That the Localism Act 2011 provides general powers of competence to local authorities.
3. That municipal bus companies provide some of the best bus services in the country and have a successful track record of increasing bus passenger numbers and providing high quality bus services.
4. That in County Durham we have shown that publicly operated services such as Link 2 can be invaluable for residents who are not served by private companies.
This council believes:
1. Clause 21 contradicts the general powers of competence and the spirit of the Localism Act 2011.
2. If there is a need and a demand from their public, then Councils should be able to provide their own bus services, including through the setting up of a company.
3. Consequently Clause 21 should be omitted from the Bus Services Bill.
This council resolves:
1. To write to Lord Ahmad and to call on the Department for Transport to omit Clause 21 from the final legislation
2. To write to County Durham’s MPs to ask them to oppose clause 21 when the Bus Services Bill reaches the House of Commons and ask them to write to Lord Ahmad and the Department of Transport to raise concerns about Clause 21.
3. To work with any organisations to publicise our opposition to clause 21 in local media.
Minutes:
In accordance with a Notice of Motion it was Moved by Councillor Lumsdon, Seconded by Councillor Patterson
In County Durham a significant number of women born after the 1950’s will ultimately be affected by the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with a lack of appropriate notification.
The new SPA will amount to the differing treatment of women affected by the change, for example a woman born 28/4/1953 (aged 63) received her state pension recently (July 2016) but a woman born 28/4/1954 (exactly one year later – now aged 62) has to wait until November 2019 – staggering 3 years and 4 months longer.
Female employment rates in the North East are among the lowest in the UK. In addition, over time legislative (and cultural) changes have led to a narrowing of employment rates and women are more likely to be in lower paid jobs.
Durham County Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age.
Upon a vote being taken it was Resolved:
That the motion be carried.
In accordance with a Notice of Motion it was Moved by Councillor Ormerod, Seconded by Councillor Martin
This council notes:
1. That the Bus Services Bill currently passing through Parliament includes Clause 21 that will effectively “prohibit a local authority from forming a company for the purposes of providing a local bus service”.
2. That the Localism Act 2011 provides general powers of competence to local authorities.
3. That municipal bus companies provide some of the best bus services in the country and have a successful track record of increasing bus passenger numbers and providing high quality bus services.
4. That in County Durham we have shown that publicly operated services such as Link 2 can be invaluable for residents who are not served by private companies.
This council believes:
1. Clause 21 contradicts the general powers of competence and the spirit of the Localism Act 2011.
2. If there is a need and a demand from their public, then Councils should be able to provide their own bus services, including through the setting up of a company.
3. Consequently Clause 21 should be omitted from the Bus Services Bill.
This council resolves:
1. To write to Lord Ahmad and to call on the Department for Transport to omit Clause 21 from the final legislation.
2. To write to County Durham’s MPs to ask them to oppose clause 21 when the Bus Services Bill reaches the House of Commons and ask them to write to Lord Ahmad and the Department of Transport to raise concerns about Clause 21.
3. To work with any organisations to publicise our opposition to clause 21 in local media.
Upon a vote being taken it was Resolved:
That the motion be carried.